A bill to require voter ID and make a host of other changes to Pennsylvania election law passed the state Senate Friday on party lines.
Wolf’s job rating dropped 13 percentage points from about a year ago, while most respondents favor tougher voter ID and ballot signature requirements despite partisan tension over the issues.
Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor and the leading House Republican on the topic are trading barbs about what should be included in legislation to alter how the state registers voters and runs elections.
The vote to advance it to the House floor was on party lines. The bill’s prime sponsor sees it as a way to ensure security around elections and rebuild trust, along with modernizing procedures.
Gov. Tom Wolf continues to criticize the ‘extremist’ proposal, while Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) says he’s open to compromise, but hasn’t said what the GOP is willing to give up.
The ambitious 149-page bill would change deadlines, early voting and mail-in ballot procedures and mandate IDs for all in-person voters.
Legislative leaders said Wednesday it’s unclear what changes if any might be enacted for the November election. County commissioners of both parties generally support being given more time to process ballots ahead of the election day, along with other changes in the strict timelines that govern Pennsylvania voting.
