ICYMI: “RightCount Aims to Restore Trust in Pennsylvania”

Harrisburg, Pa. – In case you missed it, former Governor Mark Schweiker, former Congressman Lou Barletta and members of RightCount’srecently announced Leadership Advisory Council are busy at work educating Pennsylvanians about the processes and safeguards that ensure an accurate and transparent election.

Congressman Lou Barletta joined ABC News 27 “This Week in Pennsylvania” to discuss about why he decided to Co-Chair RightCount’s effort in Pennsylvania along with his efforts to build trust in the outcome of the 2024 elections.

“Part of what Governor Schweiker and I are doing are trying to reassure people in Pennsylvania that because of the genuine concerns of the past elections, there are more eyes and earns on the ground here. There are more safeguards in place than ever before. We’re hoping that people won’t give up on the process because if you stay home, you can’t win. We want to bring people back to the polls. Some of the safeguards that are now in place include cameras on ballot boxes, first time voters must show ID, no voting machine equipment will ever be connected to the Internet, there will be rigorous training for election workers,” Congressman Barletta said.

Governor Mark Schweiker sat down Wednesday with WGAL News from Harrisburg to talk about key election reforms and security procedures that safeguard election outcomes.

“Former Gov. Mark Schweiker and former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta are co-chairs of RightCount, a nonprofit formed to educate voters and elections workers in the hope of boosting confidence in elections in Pennsylvania. Both are Republicans, and they want GOP voters to have faith in the system and electoral process in the wake of rule changes and election denials in 2020.

‘My outlook is to lower the temperature in communities about the system, that it is dependable and secure,’ Governor Schweiker said. ‘Voters should be confident when you register and vote — 2020 was challenging, there was the pandemic and the first big election for mail-in ballots.’”

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RightCount Advisory Councilmember Toni Chase, a U.S. Navy veteran from Cumberland County, wrote in The Patriot-News her experience as a military voter in the Commonwealth and why fellow Pennsylvanians can trust the election process safeguards to deliver an accurate result.

“I am writing in response to ongoing discussions about election integrity in Pennsylvania. As a U.S. Navy veteran, a Republican and a member of the RightCount Leadership Advisory Council, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to support and protect our electoral process. My family’s service to our country spans generations—my father, husband, children, and I have all proudly served in the Navy. Each of us has voted absentee with confidence, knowing our votes would be counted accurately and our voices heard. It’s a trust we do not take lightly, and it’s a trust that I believe every voter should feel.

“Pennsylvania has given us the opportunity to protect and exercise the right to vote, and now, I am proud to join RightCount in efforts to build and maintain that same trust for all voters in our Commonwealth. Safeguarding our election system is not just a matter of policy; it’s about protecting the core values that we, as service members and as citizens, have dedicated our lives to defending. Election security is not a partisan issue; it’s an American one. By working together, we can ensure that every vote is counted fairly and that our democracy remains strong.”

TONI CHASE
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA

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For more information on RightCount’s operations in Pennsylvania visit www.rightcount.org/pennsylvania.