Press Release from the Pennsylvania Department Of State
Harrisburg, PA 7/9/2021 – Acting Secretary of State Veronica W. Degraffenreid has issued a directive prohibiting third-party access to electronic voting systems, addressing requests that counties allow outside entities not involved with the conduct of elections to review and copy the internal electronic, software, mechanical, logic, and related components of Pennsylvania’s voting systems.
“Such access by third parties undermines chain of custody requirements and strict access limitations necessary to prevent both intentional and inadvertent tampering with electronic voting systems,” Secretary Degraffenreid said. “It also jeopardizes the security and integrity of the systems and will prevent electronic voting system vendors from affirming that the systems continue to meet Commonwealth security standards and U.S. Election Assistance Commission certification.”
Earlier this week, a request was sent to the boards of elections in Philadelphia, Tioga and York counties, directing them to turn over all cast ballots and balloting materials from the November 2020 general election and the May 2021 primary. The request also included unprecedented and intrusive access to electronic voting equipment.
In response, the Department said it would use every available avenue to prevent such disruption of the electoral process. It also reminded counties that the federal government has designated voting equipment as Critical Infrastructure, severely limiting access by outside parties.
The directive states that county boards of elections shall not provide physical, electronic, or internal access to third parties seeking to copy and/or conduct an examination of state-certified electronic voting systems, or any components of such systems. If such access occurs, those pieces of voting equipment will be considered no longer secure or reliable to use in subsequent elections, and the Department of State will withdraw its certification of the equipment.
The directive told counties that allowing third-party access would result in them being required to replace their voting systems, just purchased in all Pennsylvania counties in 2019 or early 2020.
“We have already had two legal audits and dozens of legal opinions all stating the same thing, there was no widespread fraud in Pennsylvania. No counties should comply with these ‘demands,’ and if they do there will be substantial costs to counties and voters, including disclosure of personal data,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “The Department of State’s directive clearly states that turning voting machines over to third parties jeopardizes the security of future elections. Any county that chooses to risk the safety of our elections by complying with the demand letter will not be reimbursed for the cost of replacing voting machines, which would leave taxpayers in these counties on the hook for millions of dollars.”
In a video statement posted on Youtube, Mastriano asked “what’s wrong with trying to find out what worked with our election and what did not? Mastriano also claimed, contrary to Degraffenreid’s directive, that he did have “the authority to conduct a forensic investigation…each standing committee is empowered with the right and authority to inspect and investigate the books, records, papers, documents, data, operation and physical plant of any public agency in this Commonwealth, including county election boards. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has consistently recognized that the legislative power to investigate is an essential part of the power to legislate… It’s very clear. As the chair of a committee, I am empowered by our constitution and the rules of this legislative body to conduct and lead, with all transparency a forensic investigation.