Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus Calls on Secretary Schmidt to Take Immediate Action to Ensure Non-Citizens Are Not Registered to Vote

Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus is urging the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Al Schmidt, to take immediate action to ensure that non-citizens who have been issued driver's licenses or identification by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) are not registered to vote. This request comes on the heels of Auditor General Tim DeFoor's announcement this week that he will perform an audit of the Motor Voter process.

In a letter addressed to Secretary Schmidt, the Caucus stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in Pennsylvania's election processes. With over 628,000 non-citizens given PennDOT-issued licenses or IDs, it is crucial to confirm that none of these individuals have been inadvertently registered to vote.

"Voter confidence remains a serious issue in the Commonwealth. Dismissing voiced concerns and marginalizing those who question election integrity will only exacerbate distrust among the electorate," said Freedom Caucus chairwoman Dawn Keefer. "We must take immediate action to ensure that our elections are conducted according to the law."

The Caucus pointed to past vulnerabilities in Pennsylvania's voter registration system, which previously allowed non-citizens to register and vote. Although changes have been made, including the implementation of the INS indicator on PennDOT records, a thorough review is essential, particularly with Governor Shapiro’s introduction of automatic voter registration last year.

With Auditor General DeFoor's planned audit, the Caucus is calling for an immediate review of PennDOT records against the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE System) before the November 2024 election. This action will help ensure compliance with state and federal voting laws.

The Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus is committed to ensuring that only eligible voters participate in elections. Taking prompt action will bolster public confidence that non-citizens will not dilute the votes of qualified electors. The Caucus stands ready to assist Secretary Schmidt's office in facilitating this necessary review.