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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 8, 2024 04:32 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Patrick J. Stefano |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Mail-In Ballot Safeguards |
| In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation ensuring clarity and security for mail-in and absentee ballots to restore voter confidence in our election process. This legislation will repeal the portion of Act 77 of 2019, which established the annual mail-in voter list, which is commonly referred to as having permanent mail-in ballot status. Additionally, this legislation will stipulate that only the Pennsylvania Department of State may send applications for mail-in ballots to eligible voters in our Commonwealth. There’s no question that voters’ confidence in the process has diminished throughout recent election cycles. As it stands, political parties and get-out-the-vote groups can add to the confusion by sending out additional ballots to those who have applied for mail-in voting. This practice leaves local election bureaus frustrated and, ultimately, disenfranchises the voter. By guaranteeing that eligible voters must apply for a mail-in ballot for each election and that only the Department of State may distribute the applications to apply for mail-in ballots, we can address these concerns and work to restore faith in our elections. I sincerely hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to restore voter confidence in the integrity of our election process. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information, please contact Jake Gery in my office at jgery@pasen.gov. |