Times Chronicle & Public Spirit

Lawrence, Gale react to state election law ruling

Act 77 ruled unconstitu­tional by court; case is under appeal

- By Rachel Ravina rravina @thereporte­ronline.com

NORRISTOWN » With less than three months until the 2022 primary election, Montgomery County’s top elected officials reacted to recent legal developmen­ts to state voting laws.

“Act 77 was passed by the Pennsylvan­ia legislatur­e in 2019,” said Montgomery County Commission­ers’ Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. “This legislatio­n provides for no excuse mail-in voting among other provisions.”

Lawrence, who also serves as chairman of the county’s election board, said in his opening comments during the Feb. 3 Montgomery County Board of Commission­ers meeting, that the legislatio­n was deemed unconstitu­tional on Jan. 28 in a ruling from the Pennsylvan­ia Commonweal­th Court.

“This decision was appealed to the Pennsylvan­ia Supreme Court, which means that Act 77 will remain in effect until this case is heard, and a decision is made by the Supreme Court,” Lawrence said. “The Department of State has advised all counties to prepare planning for the primary election under Act 77.”

Montgomery County Commission­er Joe Gale has been a vocal critic of the voting legislatio­n passed by the Pennsylvan­ia General Assembly.

“It’s well known that for well over two years, I’ve been talking about the unconstitu­tionality related to Act 77 and the way it was passed,” he said. “And that’s the reason why I’m the only county commission­er in the Commonweal­th of Pennsylvan­ia to oppose certifying the election results.”

Gale relayed his dissenting voting record on certificat­ions in the 2020 and 2021 primary and general election cycles.

“Now that there’s been a ruling made by the Commonweal­th Court, I hope this shows the state legislatur­e the urgency to right this wrong, and make sure we have real election reform passed in Harrisburg that’s done the proper way and the legal way,” Gale said. “Act 77 has definitely torn apart the faith and confidence that the citizens in Pennsylvan­ia have in the integrity of our elections, and I hope this is an example that moving forward we make this right.”

In the meantime, Lawrence noted several mailin voting procedures related to the May 17 primary election.

“We will still process applicatio­ns for both absentee and mail-in ballots, and plan to issue ballots to approved applicants in April,” Lawrence said. “All voters who would like to vote by mail in 2022 need to complete an applicatio­n even if they voted by mail in the past.”

Voters have until May 2 to register to vote, according to Pennsylvan­ia Department of State’s Voting and Election Informatio­n website. Those interested in voting by mail have until May 10 to request a ballot and fill out an applicatio­n.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 17 for anyone casting their ballot in person, according to the state’s election website.

For more informatio­n, visit montcopa.org, montcopa.org/votebymail or contact Montgomery County’s Office of Voter Services at 610278-3280.

 ?? FILE PHOTO ?? County voter services offices across the region have already received tens of thousands of applicatio­ns for mailin ballots ahead of the November 2020 election.
FILE PHOTO County voter services offices across the region have already received tens of thousands of applicatio­ns for mailin ballots ahead of the November 2020 election.

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