Committee of Seventy

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August 12, 2022

Voting and elections: Alternate electors for an alternate reality PA House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-York) promised to maintain an important democratic guardrail this week: he told LNP/Lancaster Online that he would oppose any attempts by Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano to appoint “alternate electors” to overturn the 2024 election in PA should he suspect election fraud. Of course, this could only happen if Mastriano wins this fall and the GOP retains its General Assembly majorities. But Cutler said the PA Constitution (Article 7, Chapter 13) gives this power to judges, not state lawmakers. That’s reassuring, though it remains unsettling that there’s even a possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could give “independent state legislatures” sole power over redistricting and elections, including the ability to appoint presidential electors of their choice. And around the country? An NPR survey found that so far into the primary season, when it comes to elected offices that have control over state elections, more election deniers are losing these races than winning them. But that could be cold comfort. In the words of Joanna Lydgate of the nonpartisan organization States United Action, “A single election denier in a single state could throw our elections into chaos, could put our democracy at risk."

Repeal closed primaries: From polarization to persuasion The effort to repeal PA’s closed primaries will receive an important public airing Tuesday (Aug. 16), when the House State Government Committee holds its first hearing on a bill that would enable the Commonwealth’s million-plus independent voters to cast ballots in either the Democratic or Republican primaries. Partisan voters would still be prohibited from voting in another party’s primary. The event is at Villanova University’s John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts and will be live streamed at 10:30 am. Ballot PA chair and Seventy senior advisor David Thornburgh will testify. Why do we need this? Closed primaries encourage candidates to “play to the base,” deepening the polarization already crippling our politics. Independent voters (14% of the PA electorate and growing) aren’t part of anybody’s base, and 52% of these voters call themselves “moderate,” according to our research. That “can help lower the temperature of our political dialogue and push us back toward a politics based on persuasion,” former C70 David Thornburgh wrote recently in a Real Clear PA essay. Find out more from Ballot PA. Sign our petition.

Caught Our Eye

Help America Vote: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has designated Tuesday, Aug. 16 as National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. Learn more about becoming an essential worker for democracy at an upcoming information session — RSVP.

On Our Radar

What we need in a mayor: Former Mayor Ed Rendell praises his successor Michael Nutter’s Inquirer op-ed listing 10 traits Philly’s next mayor should possess and, in an op-ed of his own, adds another: Courage. “Whoever becomes mayor must govern without being influenced by what effect their decisions would have on the chance of being reelected,” Rendell writes. Election-certification mess: The PA Department of State blamed “human error” for certifying a Butler County primary election in which undated mail-in ballots were not counted, a practice the state asserts is inaccurate. According to the Inquirer, the mistake complicates a lawsuit initiated by the Department against three other counties that also opted to reject undated ballots. Pass Harrisburg gift reform: A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial lists the pros and cons of lobbying, and urges the PA legislature to lower gift limits and toughen reporting requirements: “The public needs to know that their representatives are being convinced by arguments, not by expensive meals and tickets and trips.” 

Get Involved

Apply for a Buchholz Fellowship  After a successful launch in 2017, our fifth cohort of Buchholz Fellows are concluding their year as “junior members” of C70’s Board of Directors. Now we’re seeking our sixth cohort. Buchholz Fellows are emerging young leaders (recommended age is 25-35ish) working in the private or nonprofit sector who embody the qualities that longtime Seventy stalwart Carl Buchholz exhibited in his life and work: personal and professional integrity, a strong work ethic, collaborative spirit, a superior intellect and a passion for improving his community. Applications will be open until Friday, Aug. 26. Apply. 

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Events

Voter Registration and Poll Worker Recruitment The Philadelphia NAACP is partnering with Black Voters Matter and Millennials in Action to hosting register voters and recruit poll workers at events now through September: Aug 13, 1-4pm: 52nd Street Station (52nd & Market St) Aug 20, 12-3pm: Philadelphia Branch NAACP (4458-B Germantown Ave) Aug 6, 1-4pm: Jacobs Northwest (7165 Germantown Ave) Aug 27, 1-4pm: Broad & Olney Transportation Center Sept 26, 1-4pm: Germantown & Chelten Securing Your Vote: Business Briefing on PA Election Operations with Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Leigh Chapman Wed., Sept. 7, 10 am | Zoom Seventy joins Business for America to present a briefing by Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Leigh Chapman on the Department of State’s efforts to prepare for the November General Election and how we can maximize the engagement of employees, customers, and community members for it. The Pennsylvania business community plays an essential role by ensuring that accurate election information is distributed to its stakeholders so we all can have confidence that our elections are secure, accessible and efficient. Register.

For the first time since our founding in 1904, Seventy has created a membership program to broaden, diversify and expand our community of local democracy-builders. Your membership also provides unique opportunities to meet civic leaders and policy experts, gain inside knowledge of the reform process, and connect with people who are passionate about our city and commonwealth. Become a Member today