PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The massive election reform bill pushed through the Pennsylvania legislature apparently isn’t dead yet.
It was vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf. House Republicans says they’re planning to bring it back, but it's not clear that Wolf is open to it.
Representative Seth Grove (R-York County) began circulating a co-sponsorship memo, saying he’s reintroducing the bill.
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Republicans pointed to a recent published quote from Wolf where he says he might be open to some forms of voter identification.
Wolf was asked about it directly, and made an apology.
"I’m sorry this is even an issue. I have always been against any effort to suppress voters and make democracy less accessible, and I continue to be against that," he said.
“If what you’re trying to do is suppress the vote no matter how disingenuous your comments are, I’m against it.”
Voter identification is one of the reasons Wolf vetoed the Republican plan.
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He says it also limited access by limiting the number of ballot dropboxes available, and by changing deadlines to request mail-in ballots. Many counties, including here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, have repeatedly said those deadlines are impossible to meet.
Wolf says he is open to discussing reforms, but was evasive when asked specifically if there were any sort of voter verification he’d be open to.
“I believe there are areas we agree that we can do better," he said.
"There are just areas that apparently we have disagreements. Again, it comes down to the simple issue...if you’re trying to suppress the vote, I’m against it.”
The bill that was vetoed would have allowed utility bills or a state-issued card with a scannable bar code.
If someone forgot it, they could sign an affidavit making it a felony if they weren’t who they said they were.
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