Act 12 of 2020 was a Pennsylvania law passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to adjust election procedures for the 2020 primary. It primarily granted counties flexibility to safely conduct the election. The law also expanded mail-in voting provisions and allowed limited pre-canvassing of ballots on Election Day. [1]
The act permitted counties to temporarily consolidate polling places, relocate voting locations, and adjust polling place staffing requirements. It also allowed for mail-in and absentee ballots to be pre-canvassed starting at 7:00 a.m. on Election Day, though no tabulation could begin until after polls closed. [1] Additionally, the act provided procedural flexibility to accommodate public health guidelines. [1]