Letter to the editor: Pa. Republicans try to solve a problem that doesn’t exist

State Republicans have again proposed a solution to the nonexistent issue of voter fraud. HB 891 is their most recent effort to disenfranchise Pennsylvania voters.

HB 891 would amend the state Constitution, requiring voters to provide “unexpired government-issued identification” every time they voted.

The bill does not make provisions for other valid forms of identification, which are currently available to Pennsylvania voters. Nor does it address nonphoto ID vs. photo ID.

But if HB 891 is the solution, then what is the problem that it is attempting to fix?

Republicans baselessly claim that more restrictive voter ID laws and changes to the state Constitution are necessary to “enhance election security.” In reality, the incidence of voter fraud in Pennsylvania elections is incredibly rare, less than 0.00002%. Over the past four decades, more than 200 million ballots were cast in Pennsylvania, while there have been only 35 documented cases of voter fraud. None affected an election result.

There are no election integrity issues in Pennsylvania except for those that state Republicans make up. HB 891 is a shameless attempt to subvert the will of Pennsylvania voters and their access to the ballot box.

Tell your state representative NO to HB 891.

Michael Pardus

Penn Township, Westmoreland County