Gov. Wolf should have negotiated with the GOP on election reform
The good news for Pennsylvania voters is that Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican leaders may yet begin negotiations on an election reform bill. There are several areas of concern for local election officials that need to be addressed.
What’s baffling is why the governor didn’t attempt to work out a deal months ago and is only now acknowledging that there could be room for compromise on the voter ID component that led him to veto a reform bill just weeks ago.
Mr. Wolf opposed the bill because of new voter ID restrictions sought by Republicans. But he made a startling about-face in a recent interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, saying he’s now open to adopting stricter ID laws.
“I’m sure out there is a reasonable voter ID solution to say ... you need to show that you should be voting here,” Mr. Wolf said in the interview. “And I’m fine with that. The formula in [the Republican bill], in my mind, was not it.”
What’s astounding, and inexcusable, is that Mr. Wolf never attempted to discuss a compromise with Republican leaders before vetoing the bill, saying he didn’t trust that they would negotiate in good faith. As the state’s top executive, Mr. Wolf had — and has —an obligation to work with legislative leaders to do what’s best for the commonwealth’s residents. Refusing to even discuss compromises with Republican leaders is a dereliction of that duty.
State Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, the author of the reform bill, reflected an appropriate sentiment when he told The Inquirer: “I’m dumbfounded. I’m literally dumb founded .”
The bill proposed by Mr. Grove wouldhave required that those voting in person show ID, a shift from current law that only requires proof of ID when voting for the first time at a polling place. It is worth noting that the ID requirements in the Republican bill were less restrictive than those passed in other states. The proposal would have required officials to provide free voter ID cards and to accept signed affidavits if a voter doesn’t have ID at the polls.
The fact is that an overwhelming majority of Americans support a requirement for showing a photo ID in order to vote. A poll by Monmouth University in June reported that 80% of respondents support a photo ID requirement, with only 18% opposed to it. We’ve grown accustomed to producing a photo ID for everything from renting a car to boarding a plane, so flashing an ID to exercise the right to voted oes not seem overly restrictive.
Beyond the voter ID issue are other matters of concern to local election officials, namely more time to begin pre-canvassing mail-in ballots rather than waiting until Election Day. The proposed bill would have allowed county election officials to start pre-canvassing five days before Election Day, a move that would speed up the vote counting process.
The bill would also have moved up both the voter registration deadline and the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot, something local officials have requested. And it would have increased pay for poll workers.
We’re not sure what prompted Gov. Wolf to back away from the line in the sand he drew regarding voter ID. It may have been the Republican threat to put the ID issue before voters in the form of a state constitutional amendment.
No matter the reason, negotiations on changes to state election law need to take place with both sides willing to accept some compromises with the intent of improving the process. Better late than never, but such negotiations shouldhave happened months ago.