Keystone Today

Lawmakers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly have introduced House Bill 771, which proposes new identification requirements for in-person voting. Critics argue that this could lead to longer lines and confusion at polling stations, potentially disenfranchising voters.

The bill would require additional paperwork and voter ID requirements, imposing significant costs on election administrators and state agencies. Common Cause Pennsylvania and the League of Women Voters Pennsylvania are urging the House to reject the bill.

“These changes will inconvenience voters and election administrators and risks disenfranchising voters. Our goal should not be to confuse or scare away eligible voters with long lines and red tape. In the 2024 General Election, some Pennsylvania voters waited in lines of up to six hours to vote. Requiring voters who have already verified their identity to show ID or a complete a form will slow down lines and inconvenience voters for no good reason. Our elections should be made more accessible, and this bill would make them less so,” said Philip Hensley-Robin, Executive Director of Common Cause Pennsylvania.

“HB 771 is a solution in search of a problem; there is simply no evidence of widespread in-person voter fraud in Pennsylvania. Worse yet, it will create additional burdens for voters, election administrators, and poll workers by adding unnecessary ID requirements and paperwork that will likely lead to confusion and longer lines at the polls. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy. Rather than building barriers to exercising this right, lawmakers should focus on making sure that every eligible voter in Pennsylvania can cast their ballot freely, fairly, and without unnecessary obstacles,” said Amy Widestrom, Executive Director of League of Women Voters of PA.

Concerns raised about the bill include requiring voters to obtain forms of ID they do not possess or sign an affidavit to vote, creating expensive administrative burdens for county election offices, and complicating elections over an issue critics say does not exist.