Pre-Canvassing Measure Heads to PA Senate After Passing House
Bill would permit opening and tallying of mail ballots up to seven days prior to Election Day
May 1, 2024
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Bill would permit opening and tallying of mail ballots up to seven days prior to Election Day
Wants body to establish separate championships for boundary and non-boundary schools.
Rep. Conklin’s bill calls for precanvassing by counties up to seven days prior to Election Day
Legislation that would allow Pennsylvania county boards of election to begin pre-canvassing up to seven days prior to Election Day has passed another hurdle.
A party-line vote of 102-99 in the House sends H.B. 847 to the state Senate for consideration of legislation that, if adopted by the upper chamber and signed by the governor, would take effect in time for the 2024 general election.
Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre), the bill’s main sponsor, said an earlier start to pre-canvassing – which involves inspecting and opening envelopes containing ballots; removing them from the envelopes; and counting, computing and tallying the votes (but not reporting or publishing those votes) – is needed to address delays and frustration arising under the current law, which does not permit election workers to start the process until 7 a.m. on Election Day.
“Free and fair elections are at the very heart of our democracy, but ensuring that they run smoothly and efficiently requires vigilance – and sometimes action – on our part when changing circumstances demand it,” Conklin said. “Five years ago, Pennsylvania expanded the use of mail and absentee ballots, resulting in a dramatic increase in these ballots. It was a great move that increased voter participation, but it also created some unwanted administrative issues.
“As mail ballots have increased, county election board workers from all over the state have been telling us that the current system is unworkable and that they simply don’t have enough time to process these ballots. The resulting delays in tabulating returns can prevent a timely and efficient vote count and – even worse – foment voter mistrust and unfounded conspiracies.
“This isn’t a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It’s a logistical issue that is within our power to fix. Today, by passing my bill to extend time for pre-canvassing, we took a major step toward fixing those issues and making the system work as it was intended.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro applauded the vote and called upon the Senate to quickly take up the bill.
“Republican and Democratic county election officials have been calling on the Legislature to allow pre-canvassing of mail-in ballots for years — and I’m glad to see the House take this commonsense step today,” said Shapiro.
“I hope the Senate will follow suit and send this simple, bipartisan reform to improve our elections to my desk so I can sign it into law.”
House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) faulted the legislation for not including more of, what he called, what Pennsylvanians want.
“House Democrats pushing this bill forward today may make government easier for government, but it does not respond to what the vast majority of Pennsylvanians believe is needed to make our elections better and more secure,” Cutler said.
“House Democrats continue to abandon popular, commonsense and easy-to-implement reforms in search of their pre-canvassing “White Whale” that ranks amongst the least supported election reforms. Polling in April showed requiring identification each time a person votes is not only widely supported but is broadly believed to be a commonsense election reform that will increase confidence in the conduct of Pennsylvania’s elections. Signature verification, according to recent polling, is one of the most universally supported election reforms and mirrors in-person election day practices.”
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) issued a statement of support for the bill, calling the need to provide counties the expanded ability to pre-canvass mail-in and absentee ballots a “top priority for counties, especially ahead of what is expected to be a closely watched 2024 presidential election year.”
Legislation that would allow Pennsylvania county boards of election to begin pre-canvassing up to seven days prior to Election Day has passed another hurdle.
A party-line vote of 102-99 in the House sends H.B. 847 to the state Senate for consideration of legislation that, if adopted by the upper chamber and signed by the governor, would take effect in time for the 2024 general election.
Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre), the bill’s main sponsor, said an earlier start to pre-canvassing – which involves inspecting and opening envelopes containing ballots; removing them from the envelopes; and counting, computing and tallying the votes (but not reporting or publishing those votes) – is needed to address delays and frustration arising under the current law, which does not permit election workers to start the process until 7 a.m. on Election Day.
“Free and fair elections are at the very heart of our democracy, but ensuring that they run smoothly and efficiently requires vigilance – and sometimes action – on our part when changing circumstances demand it,” Conklin said. “Five years ago, Pennsylvania expanded the use of mail and absentee ballots, resulting in a dramatic increase in these ballots. It was a great move that increased voter participation, but it also created some unwanted administrative issues.
“As mail ballots have increased, county election board workers from all over the state have been telling us that the current system is unworkable and that they simply don’t have enough time to process these ballots. The resulting delays in tabulating returns can prevent a timely and efficient vote count and – even worse – foment voter mistrust and unfounded conspiracies.
“This isn’t a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It’s a logistical issue that is within our power to fix. Today, by passing my bill to extend time for pre-canvassing, we took a major step toward fixing those issues and making the system work as it was intended.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro applauded the vote and called upon the Senate to quickly take up the bill.
“Republican and Democratic county election officials have been calling on the Legislature to allow pre-canvassing of mail-in ballots for years — and I’m glad to see the House take this commonsense step today,” said Shapiro.
“I hope the Senate will follow suit and send this simple, bipartisan reform to improve our elections to my desk so I can sign it into law.”
House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) faulted the legislation for not including more of, what he called, what Pennsylvanians want.
“House Democrats pushing this bill forward today may make government easier for government, but it does not respond to what the vast majority of Pennsylvanians believe is needed to make our elections better and more secure,” Cutler said.
“House Democrats continue to abandon popular, commonsense and easy-to-implement reforms in search of their pre-canvassing “White Whale” that ranks amongst the least supported election reforms. Polling in April showed requiring identification each time a person votes is not only widely supported but is broadly believed to be a commonsense election reform that will increase confidence in the conduct of Pennsylvania’s elections. Signature verification, according to recent polling, is one of the most universally supported election reforms and mirrors in-person election day practices.”
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) issued a statement of support for the bill, calling the need to provide counties the expanded ability to pre-canvass mail-in and absentee ballots a “top priority for counties, especially ahead of what is expected to be a closely watched 2024 presidential election year.”
Legislation that would allow Pennsylvania county boards of election to begin pre-canvassing up to seven days prior to Election Day has passed another hurdle.
A party-line vote of 102-99 in the House sends H.B. 847 to the state Senate for consideration of legislation that, if adopted by the upper chamber and signed by the governor, would take effect in time for the 2024 general election.
Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre), the bill’s main sponsor, said an earlier start to pre-canvassing – which involves inspecting and opening envelopes containing ballots; removing them from the envelopes; and counting, computing and tallying the votes (but not reporting or publishing those votes) – is needed to address delays and frustration arising under the current law, which does not permit election workers to start the process until 7 a.m. on Election Day.
“Free and fair elections are at the very heart of our democracy, but ensuring that they run smoothly and efficiently requires vigilance – and sometimes action – on our part when changing circumstances demand it,” Conklin said. “Five years ago, Pennsylvania expanded the use of mail and absentee ballots, resulting in a dramatic increase in these ballots. It was a great move that increased voter participation, but it also created some unwanted administrative issues.
“As mail ballots have increased, county election board workers from all over the state have been telling us that the current system is unworkable and that they simply don’t have enough time to process these ballots. The resulting delays in tabulating returns can prevent a timely and efficient vote count and – even worse – foment voter mistrust and unfounded conspiracies.
“This isn’t a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It’s a logistical issue that is within our power to fix. Today, by passing my bill to extend time for pre-canvassing, we took a major step toward fixing those issues and making the system work as it was intended.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro applauded the vote and called upon the Senate to quickly take up the bill.
“Republican and Democratic county election officials have been calling on the Legislature to allow pre-canvassing of mail-in ballots for years — and I’m glad to see the House take this commonsense step today,” said Shapiro.
“I hope the Senate will follow suit and send this simple, bipartisan reform to improve our elections to my desk so I can sign it into law.”
House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) faulted the legislation for not including more of, what he called, what Pennsylvanians want.
“House Democrats pushing this bill forward today may make government easier for government, but it does not respond to what the vast majority of Pennsylvanians believe is needed to make our elections better and more secure,” Cutler said.
“House Democrats continue to abandon popular, commonsense and easy-to-implement reforms in search of their pre-canvassing “White Whale” that ranks amongst the least supported election reforms. Polling in April showed requiring identification each time a person votes is not only widely supported but is broadly believed to be a commonsense election reform that will increase confidence in the conduct of Pennsylvania’s elections. Signature verification, according to recent polling, is one of the most universally supported election reforms and mirrors in-person election day practices.”
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) issued a statement of support for the bill, calling the need to provide counties the expanded ability to pre-canvass mail-in and absentee ballots a “top priority for counties, especially ahead of what is expected to be a closely watched 2024 presidential election year.”
Legislation that would allow Pennsylvania county boards of election to begin pre-canvassing up to seven days prior to Election Day has passed another hurdle.
A party-line vote of 102-99 in the House sends H.B. 847 to the state Senate for consideration of legislation that, if adopted by the upper chamber and signed by the governor, would take effect in time for the 2024 general election.
Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre), the bill’s main sponsor, said an earlier start to pre-canvassing – which involves inspecting and opening envelopes containing ballots; removing them from the envelopes; and counting, computing and tallying the votes (but not reporting or publishing those votes) – is needed to address delays and frustration arising under the current law, which does not permit election workers to start the process until 7 a.m. on Election Day.
“Free and fair elections are at the very heart of our democracy, but ensuring that they run smoothly and efficiently requires vigilance – and sometimes action – on our part when changing circumstances demand it,” Conklin said. “Five years ago, Pennsylvania expanded the use of mail and absentee ballots, resulting in a dramatic increase in these ballots. It was a great move that increased voter participation, but it also created some unwanted administrative issues.
“As mail ballots have increased, county election board workers from all over the state have been telling us that the current system is unworkable and that they simply don’t have enough time to process these ballots. The resulting delays in tabulating returns can prevent a timely and efficient vote count and – even worse – foment voter mistrust and unfounded conspiracies.
“This isn’t a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It’s a logistical issue that is within our power to fix. Today, by passing my bill to extend time for pre-canvassing, we took a major step toward fixing those issues and making the system work as it was intended.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro applauded the vote and called upon the Senate to quickly take up the bill.
“Republican and Democratic county election officials have been calling on the Legislature to allow pre-canvassing of mail-in ballots for years — and I’m glad to see the House take this commonsense step today,” said Shapiro.
“I hope the Senate will follow suit and send this simple, bipartisan reform to improve our elections to my desk so I can sign it into law.”
House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) faulted the legislation for not including more of, what he called, what Pennsylvanians want.
“House Democrats pushing this bill forward today may make government easier for government, but it does not respond to what the vast majority of Pennsylvanians believe is needed to make our elections better and more secure,” Cutler said.
“House Democrats continue to abandon popular, commonsense and easy-to-implement reforms in search of their pre-canvassing “White Whale” that ranks amongst the least supported election reforms. Polling in April showed requiring identification each time a person votes is not only widely supported but is broadly believed to be a commonsense election reform that will increase confidence in the conduct of Pennsylvania’s elections. Signature verification, according to recent polling, is one of the most universally supported election reforms and mirrors in-person election day practices.”
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) issued a statement of support for the bill, calling the need to provide counties the expanded ability to pre-canvass mail-in and absentee ballots a “top priority for counties, especially ahead of what is expected to be a closely watched 2024 presidential election year.”
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