Pennsylvania

In August 2006, Voter Action filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania seeking to halt the use of electronic voting machines in that state. In April of 2007, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in the voter plaintiffs’ favor, stating that voters have a right under the state’s constitution to a reliable and secure voting system, and can challenge the use of electronic voting machines “that provide no way for electors to know whether their votes will be recognized” through voter verification or an independent audit. This is a landmark decision in the process of reclaiming public control of our public elections; it distinctly endorses the right of the public to participate in, seek information from and demand necessary recourse throughout our nation’s election processes. In response to this ruling, the Pennsylvania Secretary of State filed a petition before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court seeking to appeal the decision. In December 2008, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the Secretary of State's appeal and allowed the case to move forward.Voter Action is working with co-counsel in preparation for trial in this case for April 2011.

Click here for information about litigation we pursued for emergency paper ballots in light of data collected during election monitoring work in the Pennsylvania presidential primary through the Watch the Vote Program.

Recent News

Pennsylvania Legal Action

Banfield v. Cortés

In August 2006, a group of Pennsylvania voters filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania state court challenging the use of electronic voting machines on the grounds that it violated the state election code and the state constitution’s guarantee of the right to vote.  More >>