Pennsylvania Department of State Budget Hearing
Detailed Outline Summary
I. Opening of the Hearing
A. Opening Remarks and Introductions
- The committee chair opened the hearing and welcomed the Secretary of State and Department of State leadership.
- The chair acknowledged the Secretary’s professional background as a former city commissioner and recognized Jonathan Marks as a key figure in election administration within the department.
- Committee staff established procedural elements:
- A timekeeper was assigned to manage questioning.
- Witnesses were sworn in under oath.
- The chair formally invited Secretary Schmidt to provide opening testimony.
II. Secretary of State Opening Testimony and Department Overview
A. Department Responsibilities
Secretary Schmidt described the broad portfolio of the Department of State, including:
- Administration and oversight of Pennsylvania elections
- Regulation of professional licensing boards
- Protection of public health and safety through regulatory programs
B. Operational Improvements
The Secretary highlighted operational progress across department programs:
- Processing times have been reduced by at least 75% across multiple programs
- Some regulatory programs have achieved processing improvements of 85% or greater
C. Election Administration Coordination
- The department continues working closely with county election offices to improve statewide consistency.
- Ongoing improvements include refining mail-in ballot and provisional ballot envelopes to reduce voter confusion and administrative errors.
III. Election Administration Issues Raised by Legislators
A. Chester County Poll Book Error
1. Issue Raised
- Representative Friel asked about a Chester County election incident in which approximately 70,000 third-party or independent voters were omitted from the initial poll book file.
2. Department Response
Secretary Schmidt explained:
- The incident was extremely rare and resulted from a county data extraction error.
- Election officials used provisional ballots to ensure affected voters could still cast ballots.
- All eligible ballots were ultimately reviewed and counted.
3. Corrective Measures
- The Department of State coordinated with counties and election vendors to prevent similar errors.
- Findings and corrective guidance were shared with election stakeholders statewide.
B. Proposed Voter Education Funding Increase
1. Legislative Question
- Representative Brown asked about the Governor’s proposal to allocate $2 million for voter registration and voter education efforts, a substantial increase from previous funding levels.
2. Department Explanation
Secretary Schmidt stated that increased funding would:
- Address higher voter turnout during federal election years
- Reduce administrative burdens placed on counties
- Improve public awareness of election procedures and deadlines
3. Examples of Voter Education Initiatives
The department cited several outreach tools:
- Text notifications
- Mailers informing voters of election deadlines
- Communications about mail-in ballot deadlines and polling place locations
4. Implementation Approach
- The program would be implemented uniformly across all voters, regardless of party affiliation or demographics.
- The Secretary acknowledged the cost but emphasized the potential benefits for election administration efficiency.
C. Election Data Security and Privacy
1. Legislative Concern
Representative Sanchez raised concerns regarding:
- Protection of voter data
- Public access to sensitive voter information such as home addresses
2. Department Actions
Deputy Secretaries Marks and Johnson explained the department’s efforts to improve data protection:
- Redaction or removal of home addresses from public voter files
- Restricting sensitive data access through secure portal systems
- Increased training for county election officials regarding data protection.
IV. ERIC System and Election Integrity
A. Discussion of ERIC Cross-Check System
The hearing included extensive discussion of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
1. Benefits of ERIC
Department officials emphasized that ERIC helps states:
- Identify duplicate voter registrations
- Detect voters registered in multiple states
- Improve voter roll accuracy
2. National Trends
- Several states have recently withdrawn from ERIC, while others (such as New York) are joining.
- Officials highlighted challenges associated with cross-state data sharing while protecting personally identifiable information.
B. Double Voting Case Example
Deputy Secretary Marks described a recent investigation involving:
- A voter who attempted to vote in both Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Florida
- Cooperation between state and federal law enforcement agencies
- The case ultimately resulted in a criminal conviction
Officials cited this case as evidence that election integrity enforcement mechanisms are functioning effectively.
V. Polling Place Safety and Intimidation Concerns
A. Question Raised
Representative inquiries focused on guidance issued in September 2024 regarding polling place safety.
B. Department Explanation
Officials explained that the guidance reflects Pennsylvania law:
- Uniformed law enforcement officers are generally prohibited from being inside polling places during voting hours, except in limited circumstances.
C. Ongoing Review
- The Department reviews polling-place guidance annually and is open to updates based on stakeholder feedback.
VI. SHORE Voter Registration System Replacement
A. Background
The SHORE system is Pennsylvania’s statewide voter registration database.
B. Vendor Contract Cancellation
Secretary Schmidt explained that:
- The original vendor contract was terminated in December 2023.
- A departmental review concluded that the project would not meet security and county usability needs.
C. New Procurement Process
- The department issued a new Request for Proposals (RFP) and selected a replacement vendor approximately one year ago.
D. Timeline for Replacement System
- The new system will not be ready before the 2026 general election.
E. Implementation Priorities
Officials stated that the system must prioritize:
- Cybersecurity protections
- System integrity
- Usability for county election administrators
County feedback will be incorporated throughout the development process.
VII. Licensing Modernization and the Evoque System
A. Professional Licensing IT Modernization
The department discussed modernization of the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PAL).
B. Evoque System Overview
Deputy Secretary Johnson described the upcoming Evoque licensing system.
Key Features
- Mobile-friendly platform
- Streamlined internal workflows
- Reduced processing steps for licensing applications
- Continued support for paper applications where required
C. Implementation Timeline
- The Evoque system is scheduled for implementation in 2027.
D. Rollout Strategy
Initial plans for phased rollout were abandoned in favor of a single statewide launch to reduce operational disruption.
E. Security Measures
Officials emphasized enhanced cybersecurity protections and safeguards for personally identifiable information.
VIII. Artificial Intelligence and Election Misinformation
A. Legislative Concerns
Members raised concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on election integrity, particularly misinformation.
B. Department Response
Officials acknowledged that AI presents both risks and opportunities.
Potential Risks
- Misinformation campaigns
- Impersonation and deepfakes
- Rapid spread of false election narratives
Mitigation Strategies
The department has developed several countermeasures:
- Real-time monitoring of misinformation
- Collaboration with trusted partners
- Public messaging campaigns promoting accurate information
IX. Constitutional Amendment Process and Advertising Requirements
A. Constitutional Requirements
The department explained that constitutional amendments must be:
- Published in two newspapers of general circulation
- Advertised for three months prior to the election
B. Budget Implications
- These advertising requirements create ongoing budget obligations.
- Funds must be appropriated even if amendments ultimately fail.
C. Oversight Measures
The department continues to provide:
- Staff training
- Internal oversight procedures for amendment processing.
X. Special Elections and Fiscal Impact
A. Legislative Concern
Representative questions focused on the frequency and cost of special elections.
B. Department Explanation
Officials stated that:
- The scheduling of special elections is determined by law and legislative action.
- The department provides reimbursements to counties for election administration costs.
C. Budget Estimate
- Approximately $400,000 is projected for special election reimbursements in FY 2026–27.
D. Potential Cost Savings
Members discussed the possibility of aligning special elections with regularly scheduled elections to reduce costs.
XI. Federal Election Security Coordination
A. FBI Election Security Briefing
A legislator referenced a recent briefing involving:
- FBI
- Department of Justice
- Department of Homeland Security
B. Department Participation
Secretary Schmidt confirmed participation in the briefing.
C. Preparedness Activities
The department conducts:
- Tabletop exercises with counties
- Coordination with federal partners
- Contingency planning for election disruptions.
XII. Voter Education Grants and Funding Oversight
A. Oversight Questions
Legislators asked how voter education funding is monitored and audited.
B. Department Explanation
The department collaborates with:
- Counties
- DCED
- Other state agencies
Oversight responsibilities are shared across agencies.
C. Act 88 Funding
Officials noted that Act 88 funding helps counties purchase election equipment and improve election administration.
XIII. Accessibility and ADA Concerns
A. Petition Signing Accessibility
A legislator raised concerns about accessibility barriers for individuals with disabilities in the petition-signing process for nominations.
B. Department Response
The department acknowledged the issue and expressed willingness to:
- Review accessibility options
- Work with counties and stakeholders to improve access.
XIV. Voting Rights for Incarcerated and Returning Citizens
A. Legislative Questions
Members asked about voter outreach to individuals:
- Currently incarcerated but eligible to vote
- Returning to communities after incarceration.
B. Department Actions
Officials described ongoing coordination with:
- County election offices
- Correctional institutions
The goal is to ensure eligible individuals understand their voting rights.
XV. Youth Engagement and Civic Participation
A. Outreach Efforts
The department discussed efforts to engage young voters through:
- Automatic voter registration through PennDOT
- Civic engagement programs in schools
- Nonpartisan voter education campaigns.
XVI. Independent Voters and Primary Elections
A. Policy Discussion
Legislators discussed whether independent voters should be permitted to vote in primary elections.
B. Department Position
Officials stated that:
- This issue is primarily a policy decision for the legislature and executive branch.
- Implementation would depend on statutory changes.
XVII. America’s 250th Anniversary and Civic Engagement
A. Commemoration of the Nation’s Semiquincentennial
The Secretary emphasized the importance of civic engagement leading up to the 250th anniversary of American independence.
B. Department Role
The Department of State intends to support:
- Public education about democracy
- Civic engagement initiatives
- Partnerships with schools and community organizations.
Key Takeaways
- The hearing focused heavily on election administration, security, and voter access.
- Major modernization efforts include:
- Replacement of the SHORE voter registration system
- Development of the Evoque professional licensing platform
- Legislators expressed interest in:
- Election security and misinformation
- Accessibility and voter outreach
- Costs associated with elections and constitutional amendments.
- The Department emphasized improved efficiency, cybersecurity, and continued coordination with counties.