Aaron Bernstine

With the general election just over two months away and Pennsylvania in the national spotlight as a swing state, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, has introduced a legislative package intended to combat voter fraud.

The bill would introduce a fine of $50,000 and a minimum of 30 days in jail for “fraudulent voting activities.” The legislation would also incentivize others to report instances of election fraud by awarding half of any fine collected to the person who reported the offense.

In addition, the bill would require the Pennsylvania Department of State to update their full voter export list daily instead of weekly, and mandate that every county board of elections ascertain whether a registered applicant is qualified within 96 hours of applications coming in.

“Even four years after the administrative failures of the 2020 General Election, Pennsylvania has not taken the necessary steps to reform or improve our election laws comprehensively,” Bernstine said in a news release. “The world is watching us, and it is imperative that Pennsylvanians — and voters across the nation — have confidence in the accuracy and integrity of our election process.”

Bernstine did not respond to a request for comment from the Butler Eagle.

This proposed legislation comes on the heels of an ongoing lawsuit in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court from two Butler County residents whose ballots were rejected during April’s primary election.

Also, on Friday, the Commonwealth Court ruled that Pennsylvania cannot throw out mail-in votes which failed to include the date on the ballot — a decision which may have saved thousands of votes from being tossed.