HARRISBURG – In response to the concerns that grew out of the 2020 general election, Pennsylvania Senate and House Republican leaders have announced plans to restore confidence in the state’s election system and begin the process of making meaningful reforms, according to state Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23).
In a statement, the leaders said the General Assembly will use its statutory power to investigate and seek answers to the questions presented in the 2020 General Election because it is “crucial to restoring public confidence in elections.”
The legislature will specifically review three of the most pressing issues the Senate and House found over the last three weeks of investigation:
- The security of voting and manner in which votes are counted.
- The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s management of the 2020 General Election.
- The impact of the Judiciary on the 2020 General Election and subsequent candidate legal challenges.
“We will stand up and continue to fight through the legislative process and oversight hearings,” the statement said. “We will make sure there are answers to the questions and concerns that are being brought forward from every corner of our Commonwealth.”
The General Assembly will continue the efforts to protect the integrity of Pennsylvania’s elections. Both before and after the election, Senate and House Republicans fought against the Department of State’s illegal and partisan actions that directly contradicted the plain language in the Election Code and the direction of the courts.
In response to the Secretary of State’s blatant refusal to follow the law and meet her responsibility to oversee a free and fair election, Senate and House Republican leaders called for her resignation.
The House State Government Committee recently issued an interim report on the 2020 election that details many of the concerns that have been shared with lawmakers. In the weeks following the election, the Senate State Government Committee also announced that it would thoroughly investigate the issues and irregularities that have been reported.
Also in the statement, Senate and House leaders outlined why it is impossible under the Pennsylvania Constitution for the General Assembly to convene a December session. They also highlighted the reasons why immediate legislative action to change the state’s slate of electors would have ignored state statutes and the Constitutional responsibilities that House and Senate Republicans have fought so hard to protect.
“We cannot take steps to appoint electors for this election given these provisions in the Election Code,” the statement said. “Doing so would violate our Election Code and Constitution, particularly a provision that prohibits us from changing the rules for election contests of the President after the election…Make no mistake, this should not be misconstrued to suggest we will allow the issues presented with the 2020 General Election to evade complete legislative review and action.”
For more state-related news and information visit Senator Yaw’s website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or on Facebook and Twitter @SenatorGeneYaw.
CONTACT:
Rita Zielonis, Chief of Staff
(717) 787-3280