House Democrats in Pennsylvania recently approved a bill that allows for the processing of mail-in ballots before Election Day, a move that has sparked controversy as the bill now heads to the Republican-controlled state Senate. A Republican Senate leader has raised concerns about the potential impact on the integrity of elections if the bill is passed.
The bill, HB 847, was passed by a narrow margin of 102-99 along party lines and would enable county election officials to start opening and counting mail-in and absentee ballots seven days prior to Election Day, with the results being tabulated on Election Day itself.
Senate State Government Committee Chairman Sen. Cris Dush expressed reservations about the bill, citing previous rejection of a similar provision in March due to concerns about jeopardizing the honesty, transparency, and security of elections, which he considers essential in a Constitutional Republic. Dush also highlighted the absence of election integrity safeguards like Voter ID requirements in the bill.
Other Republicans, including House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler, have also voiced concerns about the legislation, suggesting that it could complicate election workers’ tasks and may not align with what the majority of Pennsylvanians believe is necessary for improving election security. Despite popular support for reforms like voter ID and signature verification, Democrats have allegedly been reluctant to advance these measures.
Republicans have also expressed worries about the potential for early disclosure of mail-in ballot results, arguing that this could influence voters’ decisions on Election Day. While Democrats assert that the bill prohibits such conduct, Republicans point out the absence of consequences for those who disclose mail-in ballot results prematurely.
In 2021, a similar bill including a voter ID requirement was passed by the legislature but was vetoed by then-Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, over the voter ID provision. Pennsylvania had significantly expanded its mail-in voting system in 2019 and experienced a surge in mail-in ballots during the 2020 election.
As the bill moves to the state Senate for further consideration, the debate over its potential impact on election integrity and security continues to unfold.
