York County News

In Pennsylvania, concerns about election integrity have prompted legislative action. A Franklin and Marshall poll in May revealed that over half of respondents were dissatisfied with the state's election process. Six months earlier, 40% of voters supported an election audit. Senator Mike Regan noted, "It’s clear the public perceives wrongdoing in our electoral process, and it’s vital that we restore their trust."

To address these concerns, a bipartisan package of election reform legislation was approved as part of the 2022-23 budget process. This includes two constitutional amendments which will be presented to Pennsylvanians for approval in the next legislative session. The amendments propose requiring voter ID and allowing the Auditor General to conduct post-election audits.

Senator Regan emphasized his support for these measures, stating that identification is a common requirement in many aspects of life. "Showing ID is not a controversial topic for any of these ordinary activities," he said.

Another amendment aims to enhance transparency by granting the independently elected Auditor General authority over election audits, replacing the current system led by the Secretary of State.

The reforms also respond to issues from November 2020 when discrepancies arose due to court decisions and Department of State advisories leading counties to adopt different practices. Additionally, funding from the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) raised concerns due to its distribution method during the pandemic.

Act 88 of 2022 seeks to prevent such external funding influences by establishing a state-based funding mechanism for elections. This law received bipartisan support and aims to ensure equitable resource access across all counties.

Senator Regan concluded by stressing the importance of maintaining trust in government processes: "We need these reforms to ensure that trust is never eroded again."