State Representative Doyle Heffley, a Republican from Carbon County, has voiced his opposition to a newly passed election bill, House Bill 1396. The bill, approved by House Democrats on a party-line vote, introduces several changes to Pennsylvania’s Election Code. According to Heffley, the legislation undermines election integrity and imposes financial burdens on counties without enhancing voter confidence.
Heffley stated, “The safety and security of our elections are the bedrock of our democracy. This bill does more harm than good and takes us further away from secure and accountable elections.”
Key provisions in the bill include establishing a permanent mail-in voting system that Heffley describes as unsecure. It also mandates the use of ballot drop boxes across all counties for 30 days before an election, with requirements for 24/7 surveillance and daily pickup. Additionally, it calls for ten days of early in-person voting with staffing for at least eight hours each day. Another change is the removal of signature and date requirements on ballots.
The legislation provides only a $60 million bond for counties to upgrade voting equipment but leaves them responsible for long-term costs related to staffing, security, and infrastructure due to these new mandates.
“This legislation does not secure elections; it makes them more uncertain,” said Heffley. “Voters deserve confidence that the system is fair, secure and transparent.”
Heffley has committed to continuing his advocacy for election policies that focus on uniformity, transparency, and accountability rather than partisan advantage. The next step for House Bill 1396 is consideration by the state Senate.
