Reps. Smucker, McClain Introduce Voter Confidence Act
WASHINGTON, DC — Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) and Lisa McClain (MI-10) are announcing the introduction of H.R. 607, the Voter Confidence Act, which establishes a bipartisan and bicameral commission to bolster voter confidence in future federal elections and to review the practices and policies of federal, state and local election officials and the impact they had on the security and integrity of the election.
"A recent poll of Pennsylvania voters determined that nearly half of voters do not have full confidence in the outcome of the election. This is unacceptable. We cannot continue every four years to have tens of millions of voters doubt the outcome of a presidential election. I fear that the lack of confidence that Pennsylvania voters feel was due in part to the smug incredulity of Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and other statewide leaders in refusing to respond to concerns raised about the administration of the election," said Smucker.
"Reestablishing voter confidence should not be a partisan exercise. And I am hopeful it will not be. This legislation is an effort to rebuild voter's trust in our electoral process by disseminating best practices and bringing together expert voices from across the nation. Many states, including Pennsylvania have started to review their election laws and I am hopeful this commission will aid them in their efforts to strengthen election integrity," said Smucker.
"The Voter Confidence Act is like watching a game film on our previous election," said Rep. McClain. "We must ensure Americans feel confident in the integrity of our voting system and I believe establishing this commission is a vital first step.
Lancaster County Commissioners Josh Parsons and Ray D'Agostino, who also serve as members of the Lancaster County Board of Elections, are supportive of the legislation.
"The continuous changes leading up to the election caused confusion among election directors, their staffs, and the public. In every election all parties should know the ground rules well ahead of time. Just like in financial systems, there must be standardized internal controls to rule out any possibility of illegal conduct. There can be no ambiguity. There can be no opportunity for counties to handle matters differently. To change the rules during the race and even up until the votes have already been counted is wrong and undermines the election process. That is what happened in this past election. That is why faith in the election system has been shaken for many. This is bigger than any one candidate or party. It is about ensuring we have a system our citizens trust," said Commissioners Parsons and D'Agostino.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also unquestionably impacted last year's election administration. This commission would share best practices for administering elections during pandemics or other national emergencies, ensuring security of mail-in or absentee ballots, and bolstering confidence in the integrity of future elections. H.R. 607 has been referred to the Committee on House Administration.