South Central PA News

The Pennsylvania House has passed a significant election reform bill, the Voting Rights Protection Act, after extensive public hearings and debates. The legislation aims to enhance election security and accessibility.

Representative Dan Moul, a Republican from Adams County, expressed his constituents' concerns about election integrity. "I have received many emails, phone calls and visits from constituents, expressing concern about the integrity of our elections and demanding action to fix it. Today, the House responded by passing the Voting Rights Protection Act," he stated.

House Bill 1300 proposes several measures including scannable voter identification and signature verification for mail-in ballots. It seeks to streamline county election processes for better uniformity and accurate voter registration lists. The bill also introduces pre-canvassing up to five days before an election to alleviate poll workers' workload and ensure timely results. Additionally, it would restore the 30-day voter registration deadline.

The proposed legislation includes enhanced certification processes for voting machines, mandatory election audits for accuracy verification, regulated use of secure drop boxes by counties, and early in-person voting starting in 2025. Recent surveys indicate strong public support for early voting and photo ID requirements.

Moul emphasized the necessity of compromise in such legislative efforts: “Any bill of this nature must include compromise to get it over the finish line.” Despite Governor Tom Wolf's indication that he will veto the bill if it reaches him, Moul believes it offers benefits appealing to voters across party lines.