HARRISBURG – A bill has been introduced which would require standardized testing of voting machine equipment in PA beforehand – using the actual ballots printed for that specific upcoming election. Using those ballots is not currently a requirement for any pre-election testing. The changes also would allow observers from the public to witness the testing and would require the Department of State, which oversees elections in the Commonwealth, to post the certifications of accuracy on its public website. Bill sponsor, Cambria County Rep. Frank Burns said that current state law gives county election officials too much discretion on how and when testing is performed on voting machines. Greater standardization is needed to pre-election preparations to ensure machines will function on Election Day. House Bill 1235 is now before the PA House State Government Committee for consideration.
REP. FRANK BURNS