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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
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DePasquale to introduce four-bill election reform package
Improving voter access, transparency and competition
HARRISBURG, Feb. 24 – State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, announced the introduction of a package of four bills designed to improve voter turnout and give more voters a voice on Election Day.
The first bill would allow voters registered as Independents to cast ballots in Pennsylvania primary elections.
"In an era where more and more voters are registering as Independents, we should not be denying those voters the chance to make their voices heard in a primary election," DePasquale said. "This bill would allow Independents to choose which party’s ballot they would like to vote on during the primary. Also, if those Independent voters would like to vote in the Democratic primary one year and the Republican primary the next, or vice versa, my legislation would give them that choice."
The second bill, to be called the Corporate Accountability Act, would require corporations to obtain shareholder approval before contributing an annual aggregate sum exceeding $10,000. Under current law, following the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, corporations can spend freely to influence a political campaign without the approval of shareholders. Further, the contributions are not made known to the shareholders or the public.
The third bill would allow for early voting in Pennsylvania. The legislation would allow all voters to cast ballots up to 15 days in advance of Election Day in both primary and general elections.
"In the most recent election, 32 states and the District of Columbia allowed their citizens to vote prior to Election Day," DePasquale said. "Now is the time to give Pennsylvanians that same opportunity while simultaneously eliminating the long lines at the polls, which can discourage voters."
DePasquale said voters taking part in early voting would have to provide photo identification and sign a certificate to confirm their participation in early voting, and the county board of elections would maintain a list of early voters to prevent fraud.
The final bill in the package would make general election competition among all parties a reality by equalizing the ability of Independent and third-party candidates to run for public office in Pennsylvania.
"The Voters' Choice Act would give greater freedom of choice to our voters by making it much less difficult for independent and third-party candidates to get on the November ballot," DePasquale said. "The VCA would change the way a third party is legally defined and remove the too-high barrier of third parties, giving general election voters more choice and strengthening competition."