Study ranks Pennsylvania 31st in ease of voting
In a recent review of state voter registration laws, a group of political scientists ranked Pennsylvania 31st in terms of how easy it is to vote. That number comes as little surprise to election analysts familiar with the commonwealth.
The study, published in the Election Law Journal, looked at 33 different types of election laws in all 50 states to create an index of factors that may make it harder, or easier, to vote. Those include voter ID requirements, early and absentee voting, limited polling hours, and allowing minors to pre-register before they turn 18.
But researchers said the biggest factor is allowing registration on Election Day. 15 states and Washington DC allow it. Two allow same-day registration for early voting. Pennsylvania, on the other hand, cuts off voter registration 30 days before an election--the maximum allowed under federal law.
Michelle Kanter Cohen, a counsel with the nonpartisan Fair Elections Center who focuses on Pennsylvania, said she thinks that's a key reason the commonwealth ranks low on voter accessibility. "Moving the voter registration deadline closer to Election Day allows more voters to participate, and that's really at a time when people get more and more informed and excited to vote," she said.
http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2018/10/study-ranks-pennsylvania-31st-in-ease-of-voting.php
