HARRISBURG – This week Pennsylvania is taking a step toward enhancing the accuracy of its voter registration rolls by participating in the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program. Twenty-eight states are participating in the 2014 Crosscheck Program, which compares voter records among states to identify possible duplicate voter registrations.
“We have received a list of potential duplicate voter registrations obtained by comparing our statewide voter list with those of 27 other states,” said Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele. “This will be tremendously helpful in reducing the number of potential duplicate voters in Pennsylvania,” she added.
“I want to emphasize no voter will be removed from the rolls in Pennsylvania unless he or she first verifies residence in another state, or the time prescribed by federal law has passed without the individual either voting in Pennsylvania or responding to the notice sent by a county voter office,” Aichele said, referencing actions that will occur based on information obtained from the Crosscheck Program.
The Department of State is sending a list of nearly 43,000 voters with potential duplicate registrations to county election offices, and asking counties to contact voters who appear to have a more recent registration in another state. Due to existing voter list maintenance requirements, these voters could remain on the rolls through two additional federal elections, or up to four years, after this notification. A voter will only be removed after two ensuing federal elections if they have not voted, or contacted the county election office to confirm their current address.
“Having as accurate and up-to-date voter lists as possible will help instill confidence in our elections,” Aichele said. “This is why more than half the states are now taking part in the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program,” she added.
The Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program is run by the state of Kansas, at no cost to other participating states.