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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/18/2024 12:54 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=38768
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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 16, 2022 09:13 AM
From: Representative Seth M. Grove
To: All House members
Subject: Election Complaint Procedure
 
oon, I will be introducing legislation to create an election compliance procedure within the election code.  

New requirements for the Secretary of State:
  • Maintain a 1 (800) hotline for voters to report election issues and fraud.
  • Cooperate with the independent prosecutor.
  • Annual training for district attorneys and their staffs on federal and state elections laws.
New requirements for county board of elections:

  • Cooperate with election integrity officers.
  • Cooperate with independent prosecutor.
New poll watcher requirements:

  • Must be provided meaningful access to all election processes.
  • County Board of elections must:
    • Provide designate election official to respond to issues poll watcher report.
    • PA DOS must develop a reporting process for poll watchers to report issues.
    • County Board of elections must investigate and report on all issues poll watchers report.
    • All election information in this section shall be turned over to the independent prosecutor.
    • County Board of elections shall record all canvassing meetings with sound and visual recordings. 
Creates the position of Independent Prosecutor:

  • Attorney General shall appoint, with Senate confirmation, at least 90 days prior to the primary election.
  • Must be a prosecutor with experience in prosecuting election law violations.
  • Review all election complaints.
  • Coordinate all oversight will all federal, state, and local law enforcement.
  • Publish a report after each election on each compliant received and how it was addressed.
Creates a county Election Integrity Officer:

  • County District Attorney or designee.
  • Work with County Board of Elections, County Election Director, and Judge of Elections to improve chain of custody and internal controls to:
    • ensure integrity of elections.
    • prevent fraud and illegal voting.
    • recommend data analytic tools to prevent fraud and illegal voting.
    • ensure proper evidence can be developed to prosecute election law crimes.
This legislation will provide statutory structure to ensure all election complaints are reviewed and responded too.  Further, this system will create a system of continual improvement at the county level and the state level.  If will help inform policymakers and administrators what are the ongoing issues with our election systems to address them.

I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation to better improve our election process for our voters and those who administer them.


Introduced as HB978