For years, critics have complained that straight-party voting in elections makes it too easy for people to cast their ballots without even thinking about who is running. If a bill that passed the House State Government Committee yesterday becomes law, straight-party voting would be eliminated. The legislation would also allow no-excuse absentee voting, give absentee voters until 8 PM on election day to turn in their ballot, and cut the time between the voter registration deadline and the election from thirty days to fifteen.
All of the Republicans on the committee voted in favor of the bill, including Representative Chris Dush, whose 66th District includes a portion of Indiana County. All of the Democrats except two opposed the bill. Governor Wolf vetoed a similar bill last summer, but the new bill was the result of compromise negotiations between the governor and the legislation’s sponsors.
The bill moves to the House Appropriations Committee, which is expected to amend it to provide $90 million to counties to replace their voting machines. Representative Jim Struzzi is a member of that committee.
