House Committee Resolution Initiates Election Audit

HARRISBURG – Today, Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks), a member of the House State Government Committee, said the committee passed House Resolution 1100, which directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to coordinate a risk-limiting audit of ballots canvassed in the 2020 general election.

“Similar to post-election audits authorized in Georgia and Colorado, it will aim to provide lawmakers and the public with confidence that the outcome of the election is correct and accurately reflects how voters marked their ballots,” said Staats.

“After Gov. Tom Wolf decertified old voting machines last year to ensure there is a paper trial to perform post-election audits, and the Pennsylvania Department of State is advocating for changes in state law to require statewide post-election audits beginning in 2022, our resolution ensures those audits will be done by independent auditors who have no role or stake in our elections,” Staats said.  “The resolution will also reassert the Legislature’s oversight authority in our elections, as provided in our Constitution.”

While there is no hard evidence of voter fraud in Pennsylvania, Staats said confusion over the handling of mail-in ballots, provisional ballots and other reported irregularities have raised concerns. “The audit will ensure the election accurately reflects the will of Pennsylvania voters,” he said.