§ 1204 — Commission staff

(a) Counties of the first class.--

(1) A commissioner may act as registrar or inspector of registration.

(2) The commission has the power to assign assistants, employees or clerks to act as registrars or inspectors of registration. Individuals assigned under this paragraph shall not receive additional compensation for service as registrars or inspectors.

(3) Appointments shall be as follows:

(i) The commission shall annually appoint at least two registrars for each registration place. Not more than one-half of the number of registrars appointed annually for each registration place may be members of the same political party.

(ii) Registrars appointed must be qualified electors of the election district or ward for which they have been appointed, must be of good moral character, must not have been convicted of a crime and must be familiar with the qualifications of electors and the duties of the registrars. No individual who holds or is a candidate for public office or party office may be appointed to or hold any office or employment under any commission except as otherwise provided by this part.

(iii) Appointments shall be as follows:

(A) The commission shall provide 15 days' notice for submission of candidates.

(B) The city chairs of the party having polled the highest and the second highest vote in this Commonwealth at the last preceding gubernatorial election may file with the commission a written list of names of members of the party whom the chair recommends for appointment as registrars. Lists must contain the name, address, qualifications and occupation of each individual recommended and shall be open to public inspection in the office of the commission.

(C) The commission shall appoint individuals from the list as registrars representing the parties. If more candidates are recommended by a chair than the party is entitled to have appointed, the commission shall appoint those candidates from the list whom the commission finds to be qualified under this section. If there are not sufficient candidates qualified to serve recommended by a chair, the commission may appoint other individuals whom the commission believes qualified.

(D) If a vacancy occurs in the office of registrar, the commission shall fill the vacancy by appointing an elector of the district or ward, as the case may be, who is qualified under subparagraph (ii) and who is a registered and enrolled member of the same political party as the registrar whose office was vacated. The vacancy appointment shall be made in the same manner as the initial appointment.

(iv) Registrars appointed have the power to register the qualified electors of the election district or ward and, in so doing, to administer oaths and affirmations. Registrars appointed shall perform all other duties imposed on registrars by this part and by the commission.

(v) Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a registrar from serving as a registrar in a ward or division of the city or prevent the commission from assigning a registrar to register voters in a ward or division of the city.

(vi) Except as provided in paragraph (1), each registrar shall receive compensation set by the commission for each day during which the registrar is engaged in the active performance of duties as registrar.

(vii) The commission shall designate the duties to be performed by appointed registrars.

(4) Any insertion or removal of names or other information in registers or an amendment of registration records done by any employee, registrar or inspector by order of the commission shall be construed to be an action of the commission. It is the duty of the commission to correct any error in such action.

(5) Before exercising a power of office, a registrar or inspector of registration assigned under paragraph (2) or appointed under paragraph (3) must comply with all of the following:

(i) Take an oath or affirmation of office as prescribed by the commission.

(ii) Receive from the commission a certificate of appointment setting forth name and address, date of appointment and the length of appointment.

(6) The commission may annually designate registration places in the wards.

(7) The commission may appoint employees necessary to perform the functions of the office and to register the voters of the city. Employees shall be paid compensation as set by the commission.

(8) Removal shall be as follows:

(i) The commission has the power to remove any employee, inspector, registrar or other officer appointed or employed by it. No registrar appointed under paragraph (3) may be removed except for cause.

(ii) A qualified elector of the city may appear before the commission and show that a registrar assigned under paragraph (2) or appointed under paragraph (3) does not possess the qualifications requisite for the performance of duties of office or has violated this part. If, after public hearing, the commission finds the charges brought to be true, the commission shall remove the registrar.

(9) An inspector of registration has the authority to investigate all matters regarding voter registration and to make recommendations to the commission.

(10) The commission may employ counsel. Counsel shall advise the commission regarding its powers and duties, the rights of individuals and the best methods of legal procedure for carrying out this part and shall appear for and represent the commission on all appeals under sections 1602 (relating to court of common pleas) and 1603 (relating to commission duties). The amount of compensation for counsel shall be set by the city commissioners.

(11) Employees and clerks of the commission shall be privileged from arrest while acting as registrars. Commissioners and inspectors of registration shall be privileged from arrest while performing their duties except upon warrant of a court of record for a felony, for wanton breach of the peace or for a criminal violation of this part.

(b) Counties of the second through eighth classes.--

(1) The registration commission shall appoint a chief clerk who may be the chief clerk of the county commissioners. The chief clerk has authority to administer oaths and to sign vouchers.

(2) Registrars and inspectors of registration must be qualified electors of the county. Registrars and inspectors of registration shall receive compensation, either on a per diem basis for time actually employed or on the basis of work actually done, as fixed by the salary board of the county. No registrar or inspector of registration may exercise any power of office until taking an oath or affirmation of office prescribed by the commission and receiving from the commission a certificate of appointment setting forth name and address, date of appointment and length of appointment.

(3) Other staff shall be as follows:

(i) A commission may appoint assistants and employees as necessary to carry out this part and may remove them. The number and compensation of assistants and employees shall be fixed by the salary board of the county. A commission may appoint employees of the county to act for the commission without additional compensation.

(ii) The employees to be appointed by a commission include:

(A) Registrars or clerks who are empowered to register the qualified electors of the county and, in so doing, to administer oaths and affirmations.

(B) Inspectors of registration who have authority to investigate all matters regarding voter registration and to make recommendations to the commission.

(4) The county solicitor shall be counsel for the commission and shall receive no compensation in addition to compensation as county solicitor. Counsel shall advise the commission regarding its powers and duties and the rights of individuals and concerning the best methods of legal procedure for carrying out this part and shall appear for and represent the commission on appeals taken from its decisions or orders.

(5) Any insertion or removal of names or other information in registers and the amendment of registration records done by any employee of a commission or by order of a commission shall be construed to have been done by the commission. The commission shall be responsible for the correction of errors.

(6) No individual who holds or is a candidate for public or party office may be appointed to or hold any office or employment under any commission except as otherwise provided by this part.

(7) Commissioners, registrars and inspectors of registration shall be privileged from arrest while performing their duties except upon warrant of a court of record for a felony, for wanton breach of the peace or for a criminal violation of this part.

(8) A commissioner or the chief clerk may act as registrar or inspector of registration. When acting under this subsection, the commissioner or chief clerk has the powers and duties conferred by law upon registrars and inspectors of registration.