PRINTER'S NO. 3192
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
772
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, NEILSON, A. DAVIS, HARKINS, SCHLOSSBERG,
PASHINSKI, SIMS, WARREN, YOUNGBLOOD, COMITTA, LONGIETTI,
BARBIN, SCHWEYER AND ROEBUCK, MARCH 26, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 26, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Requesting that Congress pass the Secure Elections Act, S. 2261
(2017-2018).
WHEREAS, The Department of State of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania recently issued a directive requiring all new
voting machines to have a voter-verified paper ballot or paper
record of votes; and
WHEREAS, Many election security and computer science experts
agree that paperless electronic voting machines are prone to a
number of vulnerabilities that make vote tampering easier and
they further agree that having a paper record eliminates much of
the risk to our voting process; and
WHEREAS, Most counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
use paperless electronic voting machines; and
WHEREAS, While the recent directive is to be applauded as an
important step toward more secure elections, new voting machines
are likely cost-prohibitive for many counties; and
WHEREAS, For Allegheny County alone, the cost could be as
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much as $26 million; and
WHEREAS, S. 2261, the Secure Elections Act, was introduced in
the 115th Congress of the United States on a bipartisan basis by
Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, S. 2261 would assist communities in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania and across our nation by providing grants to
states for expenses related to the acquisition of voting
equipment with voter-verified paper ballots; and
WHEREAS, S. 2261 would improve election procedures among
states that comply with the recommendations of a knowledgeable
advisory committee regarding postelection audits; and
WHEREAS, S. 2261 would provide an insurance pool for states
that need to conduct wide-ranging recounts for close elections;
and
WHEREAS, S. 2261 would bolster election security by requiring
voting equipment manufacturers to provide prompt notification of
possible cybersecurity incidents; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania recognizes that we must ensure the integrity of our
voting process given the alleged foreign interference in the
2016 elections and the heightened scrutiny surrounding
elections; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania acknowledges that government entities must take
swift action to increase the fairness and security of our next
elections and restore voter confidence in the election system;
and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania urges passage of S. 2261 ahead of the 2018 midterm
election and the 2020 presidential election; therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania request that the Congress of the
United States pass the Secure Elections Act, S. 2261 (2017-
2018); and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the
President of the United States, to the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
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