Pennsylvania Court to Decide on Use of Unverified Voter Registrations

What it is

Why it matters

• The Pennsylvania Department of State is facing legal scrutiny over its directive that allows county election boards to accept voter registrations without verifying mismatched identification
• In 2018, then-Secretary of the Commonwealth Robert Torres issued a directive instructing county election officials not to reject voter registration applications based solely on mismatched information
• Under federal law, specifically the Help America Vote Act HAVA, voters must provide either a driver's license number or a Social Security number when registering
• Traditionally, if these numbers did not match government databases, the application would be denied
• However, the 2018 directive changed this practice, allowing individuals to register even if their provided information did not match

Key facts

• The case, which has drawn attention from election integrity advocates, is currently before the Commonwealth Court

Primary sources

• Congress.gov — H.R. 3295
• https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dos/resources/voting-and-elections/directives-and-guidance/2022-09-26-DOS-Voter-ID-Guidance.pdf>
• https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?act=3&sessInd=0&yr=2002>

Further reading & references

• Two Pennsylvania Residents Charged with Election Fraud
• Former Iowa Superintendent's Voter Registration Raises Concerns
• Alabama's Voter List Costs $37,000, Raising Legal Concerns

Related explainers

• Two Pennsylvania Residents Charged With Election Fraud
• Election Integrity Activists Launch Nationwide Bus Tour to Support SAVE Act
• PA Supreme Court Shuts Down Lawfare Aimed At Election Law
• Maine's Secretary of State Acknowledges Presence of Noncitizens on Voter Rolls
• Alabama's Voter List Costs $37,000, Raising Legal Concerns
• California Woman Charged for Allegedly Voting on Dog's Behalf