That was then.

This is now.

After complaining for the last two election cycles about “unfairness” and “problems” surrounding mail-in voting, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has seen the light and trained its sights on the Keystone State.

RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced a rollout of the “Bank Your Vote” program in Pennsylvania and launched the state Leadership Team.

“This is a nationwide initiative, but I honestly can’t think of a state where this is more important than Pennsylvania,” she said during a Tuesday press call.

“Bank Your Vote” encourages voters to pledge to “bank” their vote before Election Day.

“To beat Joe Biden and Pennsylvania Democrats like Bob Casey in 2024, we must ensure that Republicans bank as many pre-Election Day votes as possible,” said McDaniel. “The RNC is proud to work with Republican leaders across the state to encourage voters to Bank Your Vote and deliver Republican victories up and down the ballot next November.” 

The RNC has come together with the Republican Party of Pennsylvania to encourage, educate, and activate Republican voters on when, where, and how to lock in their votes as early as possible.

“The Republican Party of Pennsylvania’s partnership with the RNC is stronger than ever,” said party chairman Lawrence Tabas. “We are thrilled to launch Pennsylvania Bank Your Vote together to ensure that Keystone State Republicans maximize every legal voting method to secure victories up and down the ballot in 2023 and 2024.” 

The group has created a unique website –  PA.BankYourVote.com – that includes important dates, pre-Election Day voting processes, links to state government sites where voters can learn more about voting early, and options for voters to sign up to receive digital reminders for pre-Election Day voting options.

“This website will serve as a hub for important voting and election integrity updates that will help let voters know of key deadlines, help them to bank their vote, and get them real time information,” said McDaniel. “It’s managed by the RNC so they can trust the information that’s coming in.”

Tabas added, “We have built a foundation for a very effective mail-in ballot program that’s going to benefit our 2023 candidates. But we have a long-term strategy and a long-term view. We are committed that winning in 23 is the path to winning in 24 and we will be expanding mail in ballot ‘Bank Your Vote’ efforts for our 2024 candidates as well.”

“Now, I know there are a lot of Republicans who think that actually voting in person helps Republican candidates,” said state treasurer Stacy Garrity. “But pre-Election Day voting actually saves campaigns precious dollars. The longer it takes the voter to cast their vote, the more it costs Republican candidates. So when voters vote before election day, they’re removed from my voters’ contact list.”

“Pennsylvania voters now have the opportunity to vote before election day and we need to take advantage of that,” said Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick. “Getting a head start on Democrats will be a critical part of the victory, not only for my race, but for every race in our great Commonwealth. Together with the RNC and the PAGOP, we will ensure that Pennsylvania voters know how to express their right to vote early so that we can end the weak and failed leadership of Bob Casey and Joe Biden once and for all.”

When asked whether the group had taken a position on ballot curing, Tabas was adamant that the rules governing Pennsylvania elections had to be uniform across all 67 counties.

“The most important thing is that whatever the rules are, regarding mail-in ballots and absentee ballots, they need to be exactly the same – applied and enforced – identical in each of our 67 counties. And if there is an established procedure for curing ballots, it should be the same in Philadelphia County as it is in Erie County or Centre County.”

“Pennsylvania has to be assured that there are uniform rules so that if you’re counting your ballot anywhere in this Commonwealth, it will be counted on the same basis, no matter where you live. Your zip code shouldn’t determine how your ballot ends up getting counted.

“We hope we’ll be able to establish a single method for counting ballots and the whole process, no matter where you live in this commonwealth.”

McDaniel also announced a “Bank Your Vote Pennsylvania” Leadership team:
 
Elected Officials 

• • Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
  • Congressman Dan Meuser
  • Congressman Scott Perry
  • Congressman Lloyd Smucker
  • Congressman Guy Reschenthaler
  • Congressman GT Thompson
  • Congressman Mike Kelly
  • State Senate Pro Tempore Kim Ward
  • Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman
  • PA Senate Republican Campaign Committee       
  • House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler
  • Republican Policy Chair Josh Kail
  • PA House Republican Campaign Committee        
  • State Treasurer Stacy Garrity
  • State Auditor General Timothy DeFoor

• RNC Members 
  • Chairman Lawrence Tabas
  • Committeeman Andrew Reilly
  • Committeewoman Christine Toretti
• Grassroots 
  • U.S. Senate Candidate Dave McCormick
  • PAGOP Vice Chair Bernie Comfort
  • PAGOP Deputy Chair Dr. Marcela Diaz-Myers
  • PAGOP Secretary Liz Preate Havey
  • Commonwealth Club Chair Ted Christian
  • PA Young Republicans Chair Jenna Geesey
  • Beaver County Chair Roman Kozak
  • Chester County Chair Raffi Terzian
  • Lancaster County Chair Kirk Radanovic
  • Lawrence County Chair Lynne Ryan
  • Susquehanna County Chair Donna Cosmello
  • Wayne County Chair Steve Adams
  • Westmoreland County Chair Bill Bretz
• Election Integrity 
  • Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons, Chairman of the PA Republican Caucus of County Commissioners
  • Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera