8 Pa.C.S. Ch. 6

in effect

8 Pa.C.S. § 601 Creation and alteration.

(a) Council.--In addition to reapportionment initiated in accordance with 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 9 (relating to municipal reapportionment) and section 11 of Article IX of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, a council may, by ordinance, do any of the following: (1) Divide boroughs into wards. (2) Erect new wards out of two or more adjoining wards or parts of wards. (3) Consolidate two or more wards into one ward. (4) Divide any ward already erected into two or more wards. (5) Alter the lines of two or more adjoining wards or cause the lines or boundaries of wards to be ascertained or established. (6) Abolish all wards. (b) Restrictions.--The following shall apply: (1) No borough may be divided or redivided into more than 13 wards. (2) The following shall apply: (i) No ward may be created containing less than 300 registered electors. (ii) Any ward which contains less than 350 registered electors after December 31, 1965, may be abolished, and the territory of the ward shall be distributed among the remaining wards as determined by council. (iii) All wards in existence prior to January 1, 1966, shall remain as established, until altered or divided as provided under this chapter. (c) Members of council.--If a ward is abolished under this section and the number of wards in a borough is reduced to less than five, a member of council in an abolished ward shall continue in office for his elected term and shall become a member of council at large from the borough. (d) Composition.--All wards in the borough shall be numbered and composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable as officially and finally reported in the latest official census. Cross References. Section 601 is referred to in sections 602, 603 of this title.

8 Pa.C.S. § 602 Petition of electors.

(a) Council.--At least 5% of registered electors of the borough or, for a proposal affecting only a portion of the borough, at least 5% of the registered electors of the ward which would be affected by the proposal may petition council to initiate proceedings under section 601 (relating to creation and alteration) and may present to council a plot showing the boundaries of the proposed wards of the borough. Council shall, by motion approved by a majority of council and within 90 days of presentment of the petition, determine whether to initiate proceedings under section 601. (b) Court of common pleas.--If council has not approved a motion within 90 days after the presentment of a petition under subsection (a), ten registered electors may petition the court of common pleas and contest the existing apportionment as violating section 601(b) or (d). The proceedings before the court shall be conducted in accordance with 53 Pa.C.S. §§ 906 (relating to contest of reapportionment by governing body) and 907 (relating to costs and expenses of contest).

8 Pa.C.S. § 603 Notice of ordinance.

(a) Requirement.--Notice of an ordinance enacted in accordance with section 601 (relating to creation and alteration) shall be given by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation. (b) County board of elections.--A copy of the ordinance, along with a plot showing the boundaries of the wards established, shall be forwarded to the county board of elections.

8 Pa.C.S. § 606 Terms of officers.

(a) Appointment.--Except as provided under subsection (b), if council divides a borough into wards, it shall request the court of common pleas to appoint for each ward a judge and two inspectors of election to hold elections until the officers of the ward may be elected. (b) Expiration.--Except as provided under subsection (a), officers in office at the time any changes are made under this chapter shall remain in office until the expiration of the terms for which they have been elected. If a vacancy occurs, the vacancy shall be filled by the council, until the first Monday of January next succeeding the election at which the officers are to be elected, as provided under Chapter 8 (relating to elections of officers).

8 Pa.C.S. § 606.1 Construction of chapter.

Nothing under this chapter shall be construed as affecting any of the following: (1) The powers and duties of the court of common pleas or the county board of elections. (2) Restrictions on alteration of election districts as provided under Article V of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=08Fetched: 10/16/2026