Sep. 25, 2023

HARRISBURG – Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Josh Shapiro’s recent announcement regarding automatic voter registration:

“Governor Shapiro lacks the authority to unilaterally take this action, plain and simple. Changes to election law, or indeed any law, are the purview and constitutional responsibility of the General Assembly, not the executive branch.  

“This action echoes the type of ‘governing’ we saw during the Wolf administration, where then-Gov. Tom Wolf bypassed the Legislature only to be rebuked both by the courts and the voters of Pennsylvania who approved a constitutional amendment curtailing the governor’s authority.

“The governor has not detailed how those who are ineligible to vote will be prevented from accessing the voter rolls through his executive action.

“Voting is a sacred right and must be protected at all costs. The governor should rescind his order and instead work with the General Assembly on meaningful reform of Pennsylvania’s Election Code.”  
 



Representative John Lawrence
13th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepLawrence.com

Share