Lehigh Times

On Sept. 7, Gov. Tom Wolf was at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg with voting advocates and representatives of seven state agencies affected by Executive Order 2022-03 which he signed that day.

According to a release by Wolf’s office, the executive order backs the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which requires state agencies to provide voting materials and information to people the agencies do business with. September was also designated Voter Registration Month to encourage voter registration.

“We are proud of the free and fair elections held here in the commonwealth, and that would not be possible without first providing convenient, accessible opportunities for every eligible citizen to register to vote,” Wolf said. “That’s why I am designating seven additional state agencies to provide their clients with materials and information on voter registration. This work will support the dedicated county officials and thousands of local poll workers who do their part every election to ensure that anyone who wants to exercise their precious right to vote can do so.”

Seven agencies will be required to provide voter registration information with the new executive order including: Department of State (DOS) at public Bureau of Elections, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, and Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations locations; Department of Agriculture at events at the Farm Show Complex; Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at 121 state park office locations; Department of Corrections in connection with Bureau of Community Corrections services; Department of Education at library locations; Labor and Industry programs at CareerLink offices; and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at state veteran's homes.

Voter Registration Distribution Agencies, or VRDA, will be required to provide voter registration mail applications and a non-postage paid envelope, as well as the location to send it. They also must post non-partisan signs about voting registration. The agencies also must have links to applications on their websites, and for each agency a voter registration distribution coordinator will be selected.

“With 1.7 million Pennsylvanians who are eligible to vote but are not yet registered, it will be no small task to reach those individuals before the November election,” Acting Secretary of State Leigh M. Chapman said. “I thank this administration for recognizing that by collaborating with our state and federal partners, we make that effort possible.”