Pennsylvania Governor Eases Access to Voter Registration in Executive Order

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed an executive order expanding access to voter registration information. With Pennsylvania’s registration deadline on Oct. 24, Gov. Wolf’s order requires seven state agencies and programs to provide voter registration materials and information to state residents. “This work will support the dedicated county officials and thousands of local poll workers who do their part every election to ensure that anyone who wants to exercise their precious right to vote can do so,” said Gov. Wolf.

The order will ensure registration information is made available at various programs and locations, including the Department of Agriculture’s events at the Farm Show Complex, the Department of Education’s libraries and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ 121 state park offices. At the designated locations, Pennsylvanians will be able to receive official voter registration mail applications and accompanying instructions explaining how to complete and mail them in. The order also requires the agencies to link to the state’s online voter registration portal on their homepages.

Acting Secretary of State Leigh M. Chapman praised the order: “With 1.7 million Pennsylvanians who are eligible to vote but are not yet registered, it will be no small task to reach those individuals before the November election. I thank this administration for recognizing that by collaborating with our state and federal partners, we make that effort possible.”