The proposal from state House Republicans to create a Select Committee on Election Integrity, mere weeks before what promises to be a highly contentious presidential race in Pennsylvania, smacks of partisanship at a time when what’s needed most is cooperation.
Rather than trying to create yet another government committee, the Legislature should focus on the immediate needs of county election officials statewide and work on something that would help in this election — namely an earlier start to processing mail-in ballots.
The House State Government Committee voted along partisan lines to advance a resolution that would create the election committee. Although the committee could only investigate and make recommendations, it would have subpoena power.
State Government Chairman Garth Everett, R-Lycoming, who was the main sponsor of the resolution, said his intent was to have the committee generate forward-looking recommendations. Democratic opponents quickly pointed to it as a means of meddling in the upcoming election.
One opponent pointed out that the five members of the committee — three Republicans and two Democrats — would be appointed by the speaker of the House and could conceivably subpoena election officials and materials involved in their own bids for re-election.
The need for such a committee is dubious, especially given that the Legislature created a bipartisan Pennsylvania Elections Law Advisory Board when it approved Act 12 earlier this year. That is the act that allowed all Pennsylvanians to vote by mail, rather than only those who might qualify for an absentee ballot. The members of the board were approved by the state Senate and are responsible for reviewing not only aspects of Act 12, but other election-related issues and making recommendations for improving the election process.
Instead of another review committee, what election officials really need is something the Legislature can provide — more time. For months now, local election officials have asked for time to pre-canvass ballots before Election Day. The pre-canvass process would allow officials to verify mail-in ballots in advance and prepare them for counting on Election Day. That would go a long way toward making sure that all the ballots on hand by Election Day are counted then.
The Legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf have been in talks on this point, but so far there has been no agreement.
There was bipartisan support in the Legislature to approve Act 12 and give all state residents access to mail-in voting. Lawmakers should continue the bipartisanship demonstrated previously, dismiss the need for another election committee and provide county election officials with the time they need to count the millions of mail-in ballots expected to be cast this year.
