HARRISBURG – Senator Doug Mastriano (PA-33) formally announced the introduction of SB 884 to add questions on a future statewide ballot referendum to repeal provisions of Act 77. If passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives in two consecutive sessions, the referendum questions will appear on the May 2023 Ballot.
These questions will allow voters to determine the following changes to election law:
- Elimination of “No-excuse” mail in voting
- Mandatory deadline for mailed ballots to be received by 5PM the Friday before Election Day
- Mandatory signature verification for all mailed ballots
- Elimination of the permanent “mail-in/absentee voter list”
A sitting Governor will not be able to veto this legislation prior to its appearance on the ballot.
Senator Mastriano issued the following statement on the legislation:
“As we witnessed in 2020, Act 77 in its current form is susceptible to unconstitutional changes that weaken its election security safeguards. The state Supreme Court unilaterally extended the deadline for mailed ballots to be received and mandated that mail-in ballots lacking a verified signature be accepted. Additionally, the State Department encouraged certain counties to notify party and candidate representatives of mail-in voters whose ballots contained disqualifying defects; thereby enabling voters to cure said defects.
“A poll from earlier this year showed that about 1 in 3 Pennsylvanians who voted in the 2020 general election indicated that they were not confident that the final results accurately reflected how Pennsylvanians voted. Another poll this year showed that 59% of voters believe elections laws need revision.”
“Significant doubt in the validity of a one’s vote has serious repercussions for our republic. SB 884 will allow the people of Pennsylvania to have the final say on these important election security measures.”
The bill now awaits vote in the State Government committee.
CONTACT: Josh Herman