Posted: | June 4, 2018 10:33 AM |
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From: | Representative Kevin J. Boyle |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Establishing Weekend Elections in Pennsylvania |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that will allow more voters to have their voices heard by moving general and municipal elections to the Saturday and Sunday following the first Friday in November – a change that would become effective only after corresponding legislation is enacted at the federal level. The right to vote is at the core of who we are as a nation and the health of our democracy depends upon an active citizenry. Sadly, however, many electors are unable to vote because of the inconvenient scheduling of our elections. The tradition of Tuesday voting dates back to a time when the United States was a rural, agrarian society with limited means of transportation, characteristics no longer typified by our nation. Because of this antiquated practice, the United States has dismal voter participation rates compared to other highly developed nations, many of which hold their elections on weekends. Adopting this commonsense reform in Pennsylvania is essential to making voting more accessible. Join me by co-sponsoring this important legislation, which will remove an unnecessary barrier to voting and ensure eligible electors are able to partake in our elections. |