From Keystone Research Center/Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (https://krc-pbpc.org/):
Elections are fundamental to democracy, and they cost money to run. We are all watching elected officials — the very people who have the responsibility for making government work — complain about the electoral process, criticize hard-working election administration officials, and toss around policy ideas that would make things harder for voters. Yet those same officials aren’t doing their part to help strengthen and support elections operations.
Take Action at https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-funding-our-elections! Send a letter to your legislator to tell them to fund our elections!
We are launching an effort to get money for county election budgets added to the state budget, specifically $1,000 for each voting division/precinct for each election. This funding could be used to pay poll workers and site costs, AND it would help free up local dollars that local officials could then use to meet local needs — whether equipment, staff, or space. The total cost would be $18,319,000, which is less than half of 1% of our entire state budget and would be a huge boon to counties. We are excited about this proposal and are emailing to ask you to send a message to your elected officials requesting them to support it.
Elections are a cornerstone of our democracy, and it is critical to ensure that counties have the support they need to run them effectively and efficiently. A budget can be seen as an outline of a state’s priorities. A top priority for Pennsylvania should be strengthening election operations so that voting is accessible and every voice is heard.
Tell you legislator to fund elections NOW!
Why it’s so important:
Pennsylvanians’ fundamental right to democracy hinges on the ability of the state’s 67 counties to efficiently and effectively run our elections. Counties currently carry the entire cost of elections outside of sporadic funding from the federal and state governments.
In order to modernize and maintain the necessary equipment, personnel, and space to deliver free, fair, and open elections, counties need a guarantee of reliable state funding.
We are launching an effort to include funding for county election budgets in the Pennsylvania state budget to help counties operate polling locations. The proposal is to add $9,159,000 for each primary and general election, an annual total of $18,318,000. County officials and election offices could then determine how best to support their elections administration, whether that would be simply meeting increased demands or making investments in newer equipment.
For legislators to be able to truthfully say they care about the security and integrity of our democracy, they must support the funding of our elections. We can afford it. $18.3 million works out to be $2.10 per registered PA voter and only $1.40 per Pennsylvanian. We are all directly impacted by elections, and every person who lives in PA has a stake in their integrity and success.
Use this tool to contact your state legislators! Tell them you support reliable state funding for elections so that officials have the support they need and every voter is able to have their voice heard in elections that determine the future of our state and our country.
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