Jun. 22, 2021
HARRISBURG – The state House today in Harrisburg approved legislation co-sponsored by state Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R-Berks) that would make it easier for eligible voters to participate in Pennsylvania elections while cracking down on election fraud, all in an effort to improve public trust in the outcomes of the Commonwealth’s election process.
“We want to make it easier for legal voters to participate while simultaneously making it harder for crooks to cheat or rig the election system,” Jozwiak said.
The bill would establish an enhanced identification system requiring voters to provide one of many acceptable forms of ID, including the voter registration card issued free of charge by the county board of elections.
The bill also would create more secure mail-in and absentee voting systems. Applicants for mail-in and absentee ballots would have to provide the last four digits of their Social Security number and their full Pennsylvania driver’s license number, or one of those two in addition to their voter registration number.
“Pennsylvanians deserve to know that their elected officials have been chosen through a fair process that empowers voters while protecting against fraud and abuse,” Jozwiak said.
The legislation would establish a voter’s bill of rights, which would, among other things, allow senior citizen voters age 70 or older and disabled voters to move to the front of the line upon arrival at a polling place.
“People have probably heard about fast pass lanes at amusement parks that allow people to avoid waiting in line,” Jozwiak said. “This is essentially a voting fast pass lane for senior citizens and disabled voters in Pennsylvania.”
The bill also sets an aggressive goal of ensuring no voter in Pennsylvania will have to wait longer than 30 minutes in line to cast his or her ballot.
The public call for election reforms stemmed from dissatisfaction with and concerns related to the processes used in the 2020 presidential election. Many Pennsylvanians began raising questions about their legitimacy. Jozwiak wants to ensure future Pennsylvania elections are conducted in ways that engender more public trust and faith.
“I don’t think any of us who serve in public office ever want a cloud of suspicion hanging over the outcome of an election,” Jozwiak said. “We want people to know that the person with the most votes is the one who won the election.”
More information about Jozwiak is available on his website at
RepJozwiak.com or by following him on Facebook at
Facebook.com/RepJozwiak.
Representative Barry Jozwiak
5th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Dan Massing
717.772.9845
dmassing@pahousegop.com
RepJozwiak.com /
Facebook.com/RepJozwiak