PRINTER'S NO. 239
No. 15 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY MOWERY, WAGNER, TOMLINSON, COSTA, THOMPSON,
BOSCOLA, HELFRICK, TARTAGLIONE, WAUGH, WENGER, LEMMOND, DENT,
WOZNIAK, BELL, EARLL, RHOADES, MELLOW, SCHWARTZ, MUSTO AND
KUKOVICH, FEBRUARY 2, 2001
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 2, 2001
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to undertake a
2 comprehensive study of methods to increase voting
3 participation and modernize the voting systems in this
4 Commonwealth.
5 WHEREAS, The right to vote is the foundation of democracy;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, Low and generally declining voter participation in
8 this Commonwealth remains an issue of deep concern, as it tends
9 to undermine the representativeness of the electoral system; and
10 WHEREAS, The problems faced by the State of Florida in
11 connection with the 2000 presidential election have called into
12 question the election procedures in other states and may further
13 discourage voter participation unless prompt and vigorous reform
14 measures are implemented; and
15 WHEREAS, Many counties in this Commonwealth still use
16 antiquated, inefficient and potentially inaccurate voting
17 systems, such as paper ballots and punch cards; and
18 WHEREAS, All Pennsylvanians are entitled to a voting system
1 that is convenient, speedy, secure and accurate; and
2 WHEREAS, The task force convened pursuant to 1998 Senate
3 Resolution No. 8 called for a study of measures to improve voter
4 participation; and
5 WHEREAS, New technologies hold out the promise of more
6 convenient access to the polling place, but the introduction of
7 these methods requires careful consideration in order to address
8 such concerns as equality of access and prevention of fraud;
9 therefore be it
10 RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
11 task force created pursuant to 1998 Senate Resolution No. 8 be
12 reconstituted in order to direct the Joint State Government
13 Commission in a comprehensive study to identify and plan the
14 implementation of measures that will increase voting
15 participation and modernize the voting systems in this
16 Commonwealth; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That the task force create an advisory committee of
18 members to assist it in the conduct of this study; and be it
19 further
20 RESOLVED, That the task force report its findings,
21 recommendations and proposed legislation to the General Assembly
22 no later than November 30, 2002.
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