PA Participating in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program / In Letter Casey Cites State’s Previous Efforts to Restrict Ballot Access through Voter ID In Push for Transparent Process
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has sent a letter to Pennsylvania Secretary of State Carol Aichele pressing the state government to engage in a transparent process as it participates in an effort to purge voter rolls. The state is participating in the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program. In his letter, Casey cited previous efforts by the state Administration to restrict access to the ballot through the state’s voter ID law in making the case for a transparent process that instills public confidence.
“I’m concerned that this program could be implemented in a way that adversely impacts Pennsylvanians who are simply trying to exercise their right to vote,” Senator Casey said. “In 1993 Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act that requires states to give voters appropriate notice and due process before their name is purged from the voter rolls. It’s important that any process that removes someone from a voter registration list remain consistent with the protections in section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act. Pennsylvania’s participation in this program should be monitored closely. The state must engage in a transparent process that instills public confidence and doesn’t work to prevent Pennsylvanians from having their voices heard at the ballot box.”
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter can be seen below:
Dear Secretary Aichele,
I am writing in regards to your participation in the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program. I urge you to carry out this process with the greatest possible level of transparency.
As you know, the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program is designed to identify individuals who are registered to vote in more than one state or are deceased to ensure that voter registration records are accurate. I appreciate your desire to protect the accuracy of Pennsylvania’s voter rolls, as well as your commitment to promoting confidence in the election process. However, a process lacking in transparency and accountability may have the opposite effect.
Use of the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program in other states has demonstrated that the vast majority of individuals registered in multiple jurisdictions are inactive in all but one, creating no voter fraud issues. Similarly, use of the program has resulted in false positives in other states, leading eligible voters to be needlessly informed that their registration is being canceled. False positives create unnecessary barriers to ballot access for eligible voters, and in some cases dissuade them from voting at all. Given the lack of evidence supporting voter fraud concerns, as well as the Commonwealth’s recent effort to limit ballot access through passage of a voter ID law, it is particularly critical that voters have access to information about this process.
While I value your stated commitment to follow state and federal law throughout this process, I urge you to similarly prioritize transparency. Not only will this increase accuracy through increased accountability, but it will also ensure that eligible voters feel confident in Pennsylvania’s commitment to ballot access. An open, transparent process will best serve your dual goals of protecting the accuracy of Pennsylvania voter rolls while promoting full faith in the electoral system.
I appreciate your attention to my concerns, and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
