HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Gov. Josh Shapiro has established a new task force to ensure a safe, secure election for Pennsylvania voters this November.
Pennsylvania became a magnet for baseless claims of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
Shapiro says he doesn't want it to happen again this time around.
The new Pennsylvania Election Threats Task Force mission is to share information and coordinate in the fight against threats to the election process, voter intimidation and misinformation.
“We take our responsibility as stewards of our democracy seriously," said Shapiro, "and the Election Threats Task Force will ensure all levels of government are working together to combat misinformation, safeguard the rights of every citizen, and ensure this election is safe, secure, free, and fair.”
The governor tapped Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt to lead the task force. Schmidt, a Republican, is a former Philadelphia city commissioner who oversaw the city's 2020 vote. He was subsequently accused of fraud by former President Donald Trump. Testifying before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, Schmidt reported receiving threats to his family's safety from election deniers.
“In recent years, we’ve seen bad-faith actors attempt to exploit [new voting systems and mail-in ballots] by spreading lies and baseless conspiracy theories, and attempting to delegitimize our safe, secure, and accurate elections,” said Schmidt in a statement.
In addition to his office and the Department of State, Shapiro's coalition also adds several law enforcement agencies to an existing group that includes partners at the federal, state, and county level — such as Pennsylvania State Police, the Attorney General's office, U.S. Attorney's offices, the Pa. National Guard and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, among other agencies.
In response, House GOP leader Bryan Cutler says the task force is a misguided exercise, instead blaming the Pa. Supreme Court, Department of State and Democratic Party for creating “chaos, confusion and discord” around election laws.
“By turning our elections into a military and law enforcement exercise, Gov. Shapiro completely misses the point of election security and his administration’s role in conducting free, safe and secure elections,” said Cutler.
Meanwhile, key election law reforms sought by a bipartisan coalition of county leaders, including measures allowing independent voters to participate in primaries and giving counties extra time to prepare mail-in ballots, remain unresolved by a divided government in Harrisburg.