READING EAGLE: …Most states let voters cast a ballot before Election Day, either during an early voting period or by absentee ballot. Pennsylvania is one of 14 states that require an excuse to receive an absentee ballot, and it makes no other concessions for voters’ busy schedules, according to a survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures…
“We don’t even offer online registration,” Carty said of Pennsylvania. “In this day and age, we should send a signal to our younger voters that we want them to vote using these new technologies…
[Ron Ruman, a department spokesman] pointed to a University of Wisconsin survey that found that when implemented by itself, early voting actually reduced voter turnout by 3 to 4 percent. By comparison, the same survey found that early voting combined with same-day voter registration, which allows voters to register and cast their ballot on Election Day, increased turnout by 3 to 4 percent… (more)
