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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 26, 2018 11:29 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan Frankel |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Urging Congress to Pass the Secure Elections Act |
| In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution urging Congress to pass the Secure Elections Act, which would help ensure elections are secure across the country and that election results cn be properly audited. Governor Wolf is already leading on the issue of election security. Recently, the Department of State issued a directive requiring all new voting machines to have a voter-verified paper ballot or paper record of votes cast. Election security and computer science experts agree that paperless voting machines are prone to a number of vulnerabilities that would make it easier to tamper with votes. Voter-verified paper records eliminate this risk by ensuring that the voter’s intended selection is the one that is actually counted. I applaud the Wolf Administration for taking this important step toward more secure elections, but remain concerned that many counties lack the funds to replace voting machines. For example, an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said it could cost as much as $26 million to purchase new voting equipment for Allegheny County alone. The federal Secure Elections Act could help communities in Pennsylvania and across the nation receive the fiscal assistance they need to make their elecitons more secure. Introduced on a bipartisan basis by Sen. James Lankfor (R-OK) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), the bill would provide grant money to states wishing to replace voting machines, but only if the new machines will include a voter-verified paper ballot. States could also apply for money to improve election procedures if the procedures conform with the recommendations of a knowledgable advisory committee regarding post-election audits. Finally, the bill would start an insurance pool for states that must conduct wide-ranging recounts for close elections; and require voting-equipment manufacturers to provide prompt notification of possible cybersecurity incidents. With the 2018 and 2020 elections fast approaching, local, state and federal governments must take swift action to ensure not only the fairness and security of our next elections, but also voters’ confidence in our system. Please join me in urging Congress to give states the resources we need to so that we may, in turn, do our part to provide Pennsylvanians with an efficient, trustworthy elections process. |
Introduced as HR772