The bill was negotiated by the Wolf administration and Republicans who control the legislature. Both the House and Senate Tuesday passed the fast-tracked bill and sent it to the governor.
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Democrats like Sen. Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia remain strenuously opposed to a provision that eliminates straight party ticket voting.
Hughes said during training sessions with new machines to be used in Philadelphia, voters’ top concern was the straight ticket option.
"Consistently, over and over again, they asked for that option. It’s being taken from them," he said.
But citing other provisions in the bill including a no excuse, vote-by-mail option and extending the deadline for voter registration to 15 days before an election instead of the current 30 days, Wolf said the bill is a compromise that will make elections more convenient and secure.