PA Forum: Democracy in the Keystone State

Panelists Bonita Hoke, Rev. Robert Shine, and Rafael Collazo.

Panelists Marybeth Kuznik, Barry Kauffman, and Elizabeth Milner.

PFAW/F's Celeste Taylor.

On Tuesday, March 13th, People For the American Way held a forum and lobby day in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to examine the need for election reform in the state. Activists from across the state attended. The event featured experts and activists from across Pennsylvania, as well as several elected officials who work on voting reform. Panelists addressed the need for secure and accessible voting machines that provide voter-verified paper ballots, more accessible polling places and curbside voting, and easing the restrictions absentee ballot eligibility. Other issues discussed included making Election Day a holiday, allowing voters to register to vote on Election Day and preventing deceptive practices.

The panel was moderated by Pennsylvania League of Women Voters Executive Director Bonita Hoke. The panelists were Tim Stevens from Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP), Barry Kaufman from Common Cause - PA, Rafael Collazo from Democracia USA, Rev. Robert Shine from People For the American Way Foundation's African American Ministers Leadership Council, Paul O'Hanlon from the Disability Rights Network of PA, and Elizabeth Milner, PA League of Women Voters.

Celeste Taylor, People For the American Way Pennsylvania State Coordinator kicked off the event by discussing past voting problems experienced in Pennsylvania including broken machines, long lines, erroneous purges of eligible voters, misleading flyers and even legislative attempts to disenfranchise eligible voters with burdensome identification requirements.

Several state legislators, including Sen. Jim Ferlo, Rep. Dan Frankel and Rep. Tony Payton were on hand to talk about their efforts to promote election reform. Department of State Policy Director, William P. Boehm and representatives from the Lt. Governor's office were also in attendance.

Following the forum, audience members made lobby visits to members of the State Government Committee and their own representatives to urge them to support/pass legislation this year requiring voter verified paper trails, as well as legislation to ban deceptive practices.

Co-sponsors of the forum included the following groups: Allegheny County ACORN, Black Political Empowerment Project, Common Cause Pennsylvania, Committee of Seventy, Democracy Rising PA, Disability Rights Network of PA, League of Women Voters of PA, League of Young Voters, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, National Council of Jewish Women, PA Council of Churches, and Vote PA.

PA Forum: Democracy in the Keystone State

Read more about our series of forums on election reform: