HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s top election official reinforced the uniform nature of planned voter outreach during a budget hearing Wednesday as Republican state senators questioned a requested $5.2 million increase for such efforts.
The Department of State is proposed to receive $158.3 million within Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget plan for 2024-25 including $42.9 million from the general fund. Included is a $5.7 million request for voter registration and education, far above the roughly $500,000 included in the prior two budgets.
One week after advocating for the line item during a budget hearing in the state House, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reiterated the same points in the upper chamber — that the funding would be spent on nonpartisan, non-political communication shared with all registered voters.
The outreach would include direct mailings to registered voters that include deadlines for voter registration, for example, polling place details and information about voting by mail or in person, Schmidt said. He added that information would include the Election Day hotline number (1-877-868-3772) and a reference to the commonwealth’s official election website, www.vote.pa.gov.
Schmidt agreed with Sen. Cris Dush, R-Cameron/Centre/Clinton/Elk/Jefferson/McKean/Potter, that the requested funding would limit how frequently the Department of State could contact Pennsylvania’s 8.7 million voters, though he suggested radio and television as potential opportunities.
“You can only reach them all one or two times,” Schmidt said. “It’s basically a hotline and a postcard mailing or two.”
Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Lawrence/Butler/Beaver, asked whether rural communities would get the same amount of attention during outreach efforts as more populous cities and suburbs.
“We have to make sure all outreach is uniform,” Schmidt said, adding that the outreach is needed as many voters who don’t turn out for municipal or state elections do show up during the presidential cycle.
Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Montgomery/Philadelphia, noted the anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965, in which state troopers attacked hundreds of people marching in support of Black voting rights. The coordinated assault sparked national outrage and mustered further support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Hughes said he supported the request to provide voter outreach and that continued education would establish a “basis of trust” through communication, dialogue and redundancy in messaging.
“The timing of this, for me, we talk about this sacred right, the foundation of our democracy, is not lost,” Hughes said.
Dush, who has persistently cast doubt over the legitimacy of 2020 presidential election, expressed concerns about government collusion with social media companies to “construct a new narrative” or “prevent freedom of speech.” He asked whether the Department of State was involved with such companies. Schmidt said the department is not, stressing that it would share basic information with voters that is reliable and accurate.
Last week, Shapiro announced the formation of the Pennsylvania Election Threats Task Force. The ad hoc group of governmental agencies is led by Schmidt and includes members of the governor’s cabinet, civilian military personnel and law enforcement. The intent is to plan a response to threats and attacks on state elections, officials said. That includes protecting voters from being intimidated at the polls and providing “accurate, trusted election information.”
Dush asked Schmidt whether state law allows for the formation of such a group, why state legislators weren’t consulted ahead of time and why law enforcement and military members are involved.
“Is there an anticipation of calling out the National Guard?” Dush asked.
“No, it’s not that at all,” Schmidt replied.
The involvement of civilian-military members and state troopers allows access to resources in cybersecurity and intelligence operations, he said. However, he added that depending on what threats or incidents are encountered, “it would be important that anyone serving in such roles would be involved in that process.”