Please join us for this dynamic dialogue on Friday, December 4 in Harrisburg, PA, between voters' rights advocates, legislators and the election officials who administer Pennsylvania's election processes. Click here to register.

THE PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS COALITION is a network of more than 70 organizations and issues experts working to protect and expand Pennsylvanians' voting rights, to make the voting process more voter-friendly, and to enhance the integrity of our election systems.

SYMPOSIUM GOAL: Elections improvement advocates and experts from across Pennsylvania will assemble to discuss observations and experiences from recent elections and prepare for the upcoming 2010 election cycle. The strengths and weaknesses of our current system, as well as threats to the system and opportunities for change will be examined. The end goal is to identify potential improvements to Pennsylvania's electoral process that will further strengthen accessibility and accuracy for all voters. At this symposium participants will:

* Strengthen relationships with fellow voters' rights advocates and public officials;
* Share and enhance knowledge on key issues;
* Build a more effective information and response network with kindred advocates; and
* Construct an action agenda for 2010.

AGENDA

8:30am

Registration

9:00am

Welcome by Barry Kauffman, Common Cause Pennsylvania

State of Pennsyvlania Elections by The Honorable Pedro Cortés, Secretary, Department of State, Commonwealth of PA
Followed by Q&A with the Secretary

10:15am

Break

10:30am

Discussion Groups

A. Building a Voter Friendly Registration System

Leader: Steve Strahs, Election Reform Network

• Current Condition of Pennsylvania's Voter Registration System

• Alternative Approaches to Strengthening the System -- State & National Levels

• How Do We Move Forward to Implement Solutions?

B. Strengthening Relationships with County Election Officials

Leader: Lora Lavin, League of Women Voters of PA

• Powers and Duties of County Boards of Elections

• Powers and Duties of County Election Directors

• Avenues for Citizen Participation

C. Election Protection & Policy Solutions

Leader: Celeste Taylor, Regional Equity Management Project, BPEP

• Ideas for Greater Coverage & Coordination Around the State in 2010

• Turning Election Protection into Effective State and Federal Policy

• Opportunities to Plug Voters into Official "Complaint" Mechanisms

D. PA's Voting Machines: Safe & Accurate or Still at Risk & Getting Riskier?

Leader: Marybeth Kuznik, Vote PA

• Status and Threats to PA's Voting Systems for the 2010 Elections

• Steps to Protect the 7 Million PA Voters Lacking Voter-Verified Paper Ballots

• Ensuring Secure, Accurate, Accessible, and Verifiable Voting Systems for PA Voters

E. Protecting the "Voting Vulnerable"

Leader: Paul O'Hanlon, Disability Rights Network of PA

• Monitoring and Supporting Counties' Duties to Visit Every "Public Institution" to Process Absentee Ballot Voting

• Election Protection in Hospitals on Election Day

• HB-6 of 2009 - Expanding Election Protection to "private institutions"

12:30pm

Lunch (provided)

1:30pm

Legislative Panel with participant Q&A

• The Hon. Chuck McIlhinney, Chair, Senate State Government Committee

• The Hon. Babette Josephs, Chair, House State Government Committee

• The Hon. Anthony Williams, Minority Chair, Senate State Government Committee

• The Hon. Kerry Benninghoff, Minority Chair, House State Government Committee

(invited panelists)

2:30pm PA Voters Coalition General Assembly -- Goal Setting for 2010

Kathryn Bookvar, The Advancement Project

4:30pm

Adjourn