Pre-canvassing remains a “white whale” as the midterms tick closer

With the midterm elections less than two months away, Harrisburg Democrats renewed their push to pass a pre-canvassing bill in time to allow county election boards to begin counting mail-in ballots before Election Day, November 8. Republicans acknowledge more time to process ballots is needed but insist that the Election Code needs a more comprehensive overhaul. Gov. Wolf vetoed a 184-page election measure authored by Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) and passed along party lines last year. So pre-canvassing remains a “white whale,” as WHYY put it. And until it’s harpooned, Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman told reporters: “We are not going to have unofficial returns on election night in Pennsylvania. It’s just a fact.”

Progress on other election bills: Small-bore measures dealing with voter-roll maintenance, ballot-storage security and financial-disclosure rules for write-in candidates passed the House State Government Committee with bipartisan support Monday.

Are you ready for Nov. 8? Join C70's Chief Program Officer Lauren Cristella for What's on Your Ballot on Studio C70? The session includes tools for learning about the candidates, how to vote by mail and how to cast your ballot in person.

Surge in constitutional amendments draws scrutiny

The PA Supreme Court refused Monday to fast track Gov. Wolf’s legal challenge to a package of constitutional amendments covering abortion rights, voter ID, election audits, executive regulatory authority and the ability for gubernatorial candidates to select their running mates. State courts could act later, but if they don’t, the General Assembly could pass the same amendments next session, sending them to voters as ballot questions—potentially in 2023 when statewide turnout will drop off. Duquesne University law professor Bruce Ledewitz terms this “amendment abuse” in a PA Capital-Star op-ed. And in an Inquirer op-ed, C70 CEO Al Schmidt notes that “this procedural abuse is relatively new, so we can and should stop it before it becomes the norm.”

One potential fix: A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial argues that the current simple-majority requirement  (albeit in two consecutive sessions) makes it too easy to send proposed amendments to the voters, and suggests requiring a “supermajority” for passage.

Who knew? Since 1838, the state constitution has required proposed amendments to be publicized via newspaper notices. But PA Capital-Star contributor Patrick Beaty, citing a Pew finding that only 10% of Americans regularly read newspapers, suggests that the state email registered voters as well.

City Council returns, short on members and long on challenges

There were four fewer Microsoft Team boxes than usual when City Council reconvened online after its summer recess Thursday: Announced mayoral candidates Derek Green, Maria Quiñones Sánchez and Cherelle Parker have already resigned, as has Allan Domb, who has yet to announce his candidacy. Members Helen Gym and David Oh could resign to run as well. Democratic Ward Leaders in the districts represented by Sánchez and Parker have already selected candidates for special elections to be held Nov. 8, and on Thursday, Council President Darrell Clarke also called for special elections to replace Domb and Green, so reinforcements will arrive when those elections are certified. The unexpected move was apparently spurred by a mayoral veto of land-use legislation, highlighting the difficulty Council might have finding 12 votes to override vetoes unless more vacancies are filled. The Inquirer has a rundown of what to expect in this unusual fall session.

Mail ballots delayed: The dispute will mean mail-in ballots are delivered in the second week of October, according to the Inquirer, trimming further the amount of time voters have to receive and return their mail ballots, and eliminating any room for error in mail-in voting this fall.

Together again next week: City Council will return to its chamber for regular Thursday meetings of the whole starting on Sept. 22. But committee meetings will continue to be held online, which is good for remote public participation but would hinder in-person access to amendments on bills. A quick fix: make amendments available online for public viewing ahead of time.