Pa. representatives: Monitoring is not necessary

GREENVILLE, Pa. -- State Rep. Rod Wilt of Greenville, R-17th, thinks sending state observers to monitor local elections Nov. 2 is a waste of money.
The Pennsylvania Department of State has decided it will impose an Election Day monitoring program, assigning at least two politically appointed officials, one of whom must be an attorney, to each of the 67 counties' election offices Nov. 2.
The state claims the move will ensure that the election is conducted in a fair and consistent manner.
Wilt, joined by state Reps. Teresa Forcier of Titusville, R-6th, and John Evans of Edinboro, R-5th, said the monitoring will cast an unnecessary shadow of doubt over Pennsylvania's current voting process by generating unfounded hysteria about the increased possibility of voter fraud.
Local election officials are highly knowledgeable and take great pride in conducting their elections in a fair and impartial manner, Wilt said. If they need help from the state, they should be able to ask for it over the phone, he said, calling the monitoring program a distraction that will spread confusion at the expense of Pennsylvania's taxpayers.