Lycoming News

Several members of the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus gathered in Harrisburg to address the issue of double voting. They urged Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration to launch an awareness campaign to educate voters on the legal penalties associated with this felony crime.

“One Person - One Vote - One Time. The bottom line is that double voting happens, and this felony-grade crime is committed by voters from both parties and independents,” said Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland). “Our analysis identified potential double voters across the political spectrum. This isn’t about one party over another; it’s about election integrity. We can do better, and we must do better.”

Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union), a software engineer by trade, provided preliminary information confirming instances of voters casting ballots in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.

“This report involves millions of voting records, and analyzing this data takes time to ensure accuracy. From where we stand today, we can confirm that double voting occurred in previous national elections, but we are committed to thoroughly finalizing this report,” said Flick. “The findings underscore the need for voter identification on a national level, and we should begin by strengthening these measures right here at home.”

The lawmakers also discussed a memorandum of understanding process that allows an informal agreement between the secretary of the Commonwealth in Pennsylvania and secretaries of state elsewhere to share information related to voter registration and participation data.

"Given recent news, it is clear Pennsylvanians need to be better informed about double voting, its legal consequences, and what to do to ensure they are casting only one ballot in each election," said Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster). "We call on the governor and Secretary Al Schmidt to engage in a public awareness campaign on this issue. The last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania is just 20 days away. Now is the time for Pennsylvanians to rectify voting discrepancies, remove all doubt about their voting location, and ensure they exercise their franchise freely and legally."

“Once again, we find ourselves on the cusp of an election with avoidable issues we have already tried to address in a bipartisan way,” said Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “However, there is still time for Gov. Shapiro and Secretary Schmidt to address issues such as double voting and voter registration updates through the vehicle registration process with executive actions. Ensuring our voter rolls are valid and informing voters about the penalties for double voting are not partisan requests and should be addressed by the governor immediately.”

With just 35 days remaining until another major national election, counties have worked hard to create safe, transparent processes ensuring each voter gets a single voice. Lawmakers stressed now is the time for a professional “Don’t Double Vote” campaign across Pennsylvania.

“Ensuring the integrity of our elections is paramount to maintaining the public’s trust in our democracy,” said Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford/Erie), Republican chairman of the House State Government Committee. “Double voting undermines that trust, and it is crucial voters are fully aware of the severe consequences tied to this illegal action. The administration must take proactive steps to educate the public, preventing these crimes before they happen.”