Southwest Allegheny News

In response to Governor Josh Shapiro's recent move to introduce automatic voter registration through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Representative Valerie Gaydos has urged legislative action on her proposal, House Bill 970. This bill aims to interconnect data across state agencies, ensuring consistent and efficient government operations.

House Bill 970 proposes that changes in voter registration or address updates be automatically communicated between the Department of State and other relevant state and local entities. These include the Department of Transportation for driver's licenses and car registrations, as well as various taxing authorities.

Gaydos emphasized the importance of this measure in light of increasing government costs, stating, "With the cost of government increasing every day, it is simply imperative to streamline government as much as possible." She highlighted issues faced during the pandemic when incorrect address information led to difficulties in accessing services like Medicaid payments and unemployment claims.

The proposed legislation would help agencies verify residency requirements for service eligibility following an address change. According to Gaydos, "We saw how important this was during the pandemic when... information [was sent] to incorrect addresses so people had difficulty accessing services."

Currently under review by the House State Government Committee, Gaydos believes that aligning all state records is a logical step forward. "The governor has been trying to make access to government easier and more efficient for residents," she said. "If people are going to be automatically enrolled to participate in one part of government, efforts should be made to automatically ensure that all records and responsibilities across the board match too."

The call for legislative action underscores a broader effort towards increased efficiency within Pennsylvania's governmental framework.