In a controversial move, Pennsylvania’s Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro announced on Tuesday that his state will automatically register people to vote when they obtain their driver’s licenses. This new policy, known as automatic voter registration, has sparked concerns about the integrity and security of elections in Pennsylvania.
Shapiro proclaimed, “Today, I’m proud to announce that for the first time ever, Pennsylvania is an automatic voter registration state.” He claimed that this decision would break down barriers for legal eligible voters and make elections more secure. However, many have criticized this move, arguing that it opens the door to potential voter fraud.
This announcement comes on the heels of a previous incident where a “glitch” in Pennsylvania’s motor voter process allowed non-citizens to easily register to vote. Over 11,000 non-citizens were found to be registered to vote in the state due to this error. This revelation raises concerns about the effectiveness of the motor voter process and the potential consequences of automatic voter registration.
Furthermore, Pennsylvania’s shift to vote-by-mail in 2020 has been a subject of controversy. Republicans have challenged the state’s constitutionality of this practice, arguing that it violates their rights. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Democrats, upholding the vote-by-mail scheme.
In an unexpected turn of events, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which consists of left-leaning justices, upheld Act 77 and reinstated voting by mail in March 2022. This decision was met with criticism, as a statewide court had previously deemed the expansive mail-in voting system unconstitutional. The ruling stated that the introduction of mail-in voting violated Article VII, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania constitution.
Former Governor Tom Wolf requested that the state Supreme Court maintain the law’s validity while litigation was ongoing, a request that was granted. This decision further fueled concerns about the partisan nature of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and its potential influence on election outcomes.
With the combination of “ballot harvesting” (a practice often associated with voter fraud), mail-in ballots, and now automatic voter registration, many worry that the American taxpayer in Pennsylvania is being deprived of their voices. Critics argue that Democrats cannot win elections without resorting to unethical practices.
As the controversy surrounding automatic voter registration continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how it will impact future elections in Pennsylvania. Critics and proponents of this new policy will likely continue to debate the potential consequences and implications, as the integrity of the democratic process hangs in the balance.
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