As the November 5 general election fast approaches, there's a push for more voter education in the Keystone State.

It's National Voter Registration Day, and more than 8.7 million Pennsylvanians may participate in the general election.

Amy Widestrom - executive director of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania - said it's important that you register to vote before the deadline, to make sure your voice will be heard.

"You have to be registered to vote by October 21, in order to vote in the general election on November 5," said Widestrom. "If you're not registered by the 21st, you can't vote. If you want to request a mail-in ballot, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is October 29."

Widestrom recommended double-checking your registration status to make sure it's correct. This can be done on the Pennsylvania Department of State's website or on VOTE411.org.

Widestrom added that voter participation is particularly important, since the choices will ultimately affect issues from health care to education.

Widestrom pointed out media reports of early voting in Pennsylvania starting Monday have caused confusion.

She explained that the Keystone State Act 77 says early voting can start 50 days prior to the general election - but early voting means actually dropping off mail-in ballots in person, at county election offices.

And at this point, the ballots are not yet ready for voters.

"In the state of Pennsylvania, we are currently waiting for a couple of pieces of litigation, court cases to be settled, before mail-in ballots - and indeed, in-person ballots - can be finalized," said Widestrom. "So, there are some third-party candidates that are suing to be on the ballot, and until those court cases are settled, the ballots can't be finalized."

For anyone who will be voting by mail, Widestrom emphasized the importance of writing the correct date on the ballot - meaning the date they filled out the ballot.

She noted that the League has been involved with court cases about dates on mail-in ballots - and last week's Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling risks disenfranchisement for thousands of voters in this swing state.

"At this point, across the state, incorrect dates on mail-in ballots can be used to disqualify a mail-in ballot," said Widestrom. "We continue to say that is not material to the act of voting, and this is something that needs to be addressed."

In the meantime, she said the League has numerous events and resources, including local forums, tabling events and online information sessions. These can all be found online at PALWV.org.

Groups working for human rights causes in Iowa warn proposed cuts being debated in Congress would trickle down to the people least able to sustain them.

The Trump administration has proposed $880 billion in cuts over the next decade to Medicaid and other services, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Progress Iowa Executive Director Mazie Stillwell said those cuts would fall most squarely on average Iowans, many of them kids, who don't have a voice in the process.

"There is so much fear right now, and it's fear from everyday working Iowans who know there's no one fighting for them," said Stillwell. "It's the Iowans who know that when push comes to shove, and when programs are put on the chopping block, they're the ones who are going to suffer."

The Trump administration has said it is working to downsize the federal government and cut expenses.

About 270,000 Iowans receive SNAP or federal food assistance, and more than 700,000 get their health coverage from Medicaid.

Stillwell contended that Iowans aren't the only ones afraid of potential social service cuts, but politicians are too.

She said she suspects that's one reason they aren't showing up at town hall meetings, that have long been the hallmark of grassroots democracy in the state.

"What we've seen is these members of Congress running away from their constituents," said Stillwell. "They are refusing to answer their questions. They are trying to make a mockery of their constituents and their efforts."

Stillwell said in light of the just-passed income tax filing deadline, Iowans want to know their money is being used to represent their interests - and not to fund tax cuts or corporate interests.

Adrian Fontes, Arizona's Secretary of State, argued there is nothing wrong with American elections but some leaders in Washington, D.C., disagree.

The U.S. Senate will consider the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act this week. It would require people to show documents in person, like a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote. Republican proponents said it is needed to keep noncitizens from voting.

Fontes countered it is an exceedingly rare occurrence and he has yet to see proof of widespread voter fraud or abuse.

"This 'documented proof of citizenship' issue, where is the data that shows that we have a significant and severe problem with nonqualified voters, voting? Where is the data?" Fontes asked. "This is another example of the tail wagging the dog."

The measure faces a long shot in the Senate. At the same time, one of President Donald Trump's latest executive orders would overhaul major facets of the nation's election system, in part by restricting people's ability to register by mail or online. Voting rights advocates said the president does not have the legal authority to do it.

Liz Avore, senior policy adviser for the nonpartisan Voting Rights Lab, said many states have taken Trump's executive order as a call to action, as 24 states so far this year have considered legislation to impose or expand proof of citizenship requirements. Since 2013, Arizona voters have had to provide documents proving their citizenship to vote in state and local elections. Avore suggested it was not the administration's intent to change federal law.

"The goal of the executive order was and is to send clear marching orders to the states, and also to Congress, to tell them exactly what President Trump wants them to be doing," Avore contended. "The states are listening."

Democratic attorneys general in 19 states, including Arizona, have a filed a lawsuit, arguing the Trump executive order "sows confusion and sets the stage for chaos" in state election systems.


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Despite voter approval in November, Missouri lawmakers are moving to undo part of Proposition A, specifically, the clause requiring employers to provide paid sick leave.

The Missouri House passed the repeal legislation last month by a 96-51 vote. The provision was approved by nearly 60% of voters, who also supported raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026.

Prop A proponents said repealing any part of the measure so soon after its approval undermines the will of the voters.

John Davis, partner at the bipartisan polling firm Red America, Blue America Research, said its latest survey showed 75% of respondents oppose efforts to repeal the legislation.

"Legislators who are thinking about what voters had approved just this past November should be concerned that there's such a strong response in opposition to that particular type of proposal," Davis noted.

Supporters of the repeal contended the sick-leave mandate is too rigid and burdensome, warning it could lead to reduced hiring or even business closures. The bill is now in the Senate, which has two weeks to act before the mandate takes effect May 1.

Business groups have filed lawsuits claiming Proposition A violates Missouri's single-subject rule by linking minimum wage hikes with paid sick leave. Supporters of the repeal also argued the Legislature can amend the law without a public vote since it changed state law, not the constitution.

Davis highlighted the importance of public opinion surveys.

"Some of the decisions made at statehouses are of extraordinary consequence," Davis pointed out. "What we have tried to do is just establish sort of baselines, to take a look over time how folks are feeling about a variety of topics, because state laws really do impact people very, very directly."

If the Missouri Senate approves the bill, it will move to Gov. Mike Kehoe's desk, where he can sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.


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