Ranking Member Joe Morelle, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon Hosted Pennsylvania Shadow Hearing on Election Security and Efforts to Protect American Democracy

Chester, PA – Today, Ranking Member Joe Morelle (NY-25), Committee on House Administration, and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) hosted a shadow hearing with U.S. Representatives Norma Torres (CA-35), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) featuring presentations from a wide range of experts about protecting American democracy, including election security, electoral reforms, voting rights, and anti-corruption efforts.
 
Experts at today’s shadow hearing included:

• Omar Noureldin, Senior Vice President of Policy and Litigation, Common Cause
• Amy Widestrom, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
• Lauren Cristella, President and CEO, Committee of Seventy
• Marian Schneider, Adjunct Professor of Law, Villanova University

This shadow hearing takes place amid widespread concerns over potential federal intervention of elections and voting restrictions proposed by Republicans and the Trump Administration. This includes the push for the SAVE America Act and restrictions on voting by mail.
 
“The President and his allies want to take over this election,” said Ranking Member Morelle. “Our planned, targeted responses include litigation, effective community organization and mobilization, and promoting early voting. This work is ongoing every day. It’s iterative, and there’s still a long road ahead, but I’m confident that through this work we will be more prepared than ever this fall and beyond.”
 
“Our democracy ultimately depends on Americans choosing to participate in it. When the White House sows propaganda and injects chaos in our elections, it suppresses voter participation,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Americans should have confidence that when they cast a lawful ballot, that ballot will be counted. I’m grateful to the experts who joined today’s hearing to provide truthful information about our elections, and the various ways that every American be an ambassador for democracy.”
 
Ranking Member Morelle and the Committee on House Administration is charged with the oversight of federal elections, including considering proposals to amend federal election law and monitoring congressional elections across the U.S.
 
Watch a recorded livestream of the event here.