Jul 21, 2022 2 min read

I am seeking state legislation in the General Assembly to provide constituents with voter-by-voter electronic election records. Various groups and individuals have sought a digital copy of the CVR or “cast the vote record” for the 2020 general election without success.

I believe a “Voter Transparency Act” should be enacted that allows access to these critical CVR public records. These records are sorted in such a fashion that they could not be used to link any one voter to their recorded vote. Moreover, this procedure would allow another verification of the totals of the county election office.

Recently, the Office of Open Records denied several county open record appeals asking for the contents of ballot boxes and voting machines, information they say the state Election Code affirms off-limits for public inspection and rules them confidential. I disagree with their assertion that CVR is “the digital equivalent of the contents of ballot boxes.”

Currently, a case regarding the release CVRs is before a Lycoming County Common Pleas Judge. Instead of a court decision, I would like to see this issue resolved by the legislature and clearly defined in the Election Code to avoid further confusion.

The sanctity of the ballot box and voting privacy is paramount, but this is another opportunity to safeguard against voter fraud.

We must hold an election that people trust, beginning with an accurate and fair result. Voter fraud has long been a source of controversy in our elections. Ballot stuffing, false registrations, and other methods have all been mentioned over time as potential threats to the legitimacy of a democratically elected government. With this change enacted, worries over one type of election concern can be eliminated: the lack of voter transparency in cast the vote records.

Nick Sherman

Washington County commissioner