Dauphin County has the opportunity to be a model of best practices for other counties by adopting voter-centric policies that reduce barriers to voting but we need your help! 

Join us to make each vote count.


Every voter deserves the peace of mind of knowing that their vote will be counted and their franchise will be protected, even if they, like so many Pennsylvanians still learning how to navigate mail-in voting, make a minor error on the outer envelope.

 

Under current law, mistakes such as omitting or making a mistake on the handwritten date on the outer envelope beneath the voter’s declaration, omitting the signature, or forgetting to enclose the ballot in a secrecy envelope can disqualify an otherwise timely-received valid ballot. Because of the harsh consequences of such trivial mistakes, it’s more important than ever for counties to provide voters with notice of the mistakes and a method for correcting them.

Although the Election Code does not mandate notice and cure policies, the law does not prohibit it. Counties have the authority and can implement a program supporting their voters.

 

That is why we are joining several pro-voter partner organizations to ask Dauphin County residents to attend the Dauphin County Board of Elections meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 11th at 10am to support the implementation of a robust notice and cure program in Dauphin County. 

 

Notice and cure programs are very effective. For example, Allegheny County reports that 62% of voters who receive notice of a mistake made on their mail ballot packet made an effort to correct the error. These voters intend to vote and should have the opportunity to have their vote count.

 

To prevent the disenfranchisement of mail voters, Dauphin County should adopt the following “best practices” for notice and cure:

  • Scan the mail ballot packets into the SURE system immediately upon receipt and select the code in the SURE system that corresponds to the error (e.g. no date, incorrect date, missing signature) so that voters with an email on file will receive notice that their ballot as received will not count.
  • Contact affected voters by phone, text, or email to advise them that their mail ballot will not count unless they correct the error.
  • Release the list of affected voters to parties, campaigns, and non-profit groups.
  • Provide a method for voters to correct the errors before Election Day or advise them of their option to cast a provisional ballot at their polling location on Election Day.
  • Count those provisional ballots if the mail ballots are not counted.

What: Dauphin County Board of Elections Meeting (During County Commissioners Meeting) 

When: Wednesday, September 11 at 10:00 am

Where: 2 South 2nd Street, 4th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101

 

If you can't attend the meeting and want to show support, please call and email the Dauphin County commissioners NOW to express support for a robust notice and cure program!

Dauphin County Commissioners’ number: 717-780-6300

Commissioner George Hartwick: ghartwick@dauphincounty.gov

Commissioner Justin Douglas: jdouglas@dauphincounty.gov

Commissioner Mike Pries: mpries@dauphincounty.gov 


Background:

 

At a June 12, 2024 Dauphin County Board of Elections meeting, the county election director, Chris Spackman, confirmed that a draft proposal for a notice and cure policy for the November election was with the county solicitor for review.

 

“Notice and cure” refers to election offices proactively notifying voters who have returned their mail ballot that has a mistake and therefore will not be counted. Common errors include not handwriting a date on the outer return envelope, forgetting to sign the declaration, or forgetting the secrecy envelope. Dauphin County has not previously allowed notice and cure.

 

In the 2024 primary, in Dauphin County, 296 mail ballots were not counted including: 64 with no date or incorrect date, 85 with no signature, and 29 with no secrecy envelope. These numbers are approximately 1.2% of the 14,602 ballots received.


In the 2023 General Election, similarly 109 ballots were not counted because of missing or incorrect date, 56 ballots had no secrecy envelope, and 29 had no signature. These accounted for approximately 1.1% of the total number of mail ballots returned.

 

Dauphin County can be a model of best practices for other counties by adopting voter-centric policies that reduce barriers to voting. 

 

Volunteer with us at New PA Project Education Fund


Nancy Lopez Sosa

Regional Organizing Director for Chester and Delaware Counties

Nancy Lopez Sosa is the Regional Organizing Director for Chester and Delaware Counties at The New Pennsylvania Project. Nancy is passionate about mobilizing communities of color and advocating for social justice issues. Previously, she worked as a community organizer for the Farmworker Support Committee where she provided labor education to immigrant, Latino farmworkers in Southern Chester County, and mobilized them to advocate for immigrant justice and fair wages.

Nancy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Anthropology and Latin American Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She was born and raised in Central Mexico and currently resides in Oxford, Pennsylvania.

Katie Zemaitis

Regional Organizing Director for Allegheny County

Katie Zemaitis is one of the New Pennsylvania Project’s regional organizing director for Allegheny County. Katie is a lifelong Pennsylvanian and has spent her life making meaningful ties in the region. She believes that energizing and mobilizing people to vote is the most powerful way to make change both locally and nationwide. Katie graduated from Allegheny College where she studied Political Science and Global Health Studies. After graduating, she worked with the Pennsylvania House Democrats in a first-of-its-kind legislative deep canvassing effort. Establishing meaningful relationships with voters and volunteers alike motivates Katie in her organizing journey.

Taiba Sultana

Regional Organizing Director of Northampton & Monroe Counties

Taiba Sultana is a Regional Director of Northampton and Monroe counties. Sultana is a councilwoman of the city of Easton. She defeated 20 years incumbent, making a history for becoming the first Asian, Muslim, immigrant and first woman of color to be on the Easton City Council. She serves as a member of Governor Wolf’s Commission on Higher Education and as a member of the College Textbook Policies Advisory for the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

In the past, Taiba has served as an executive member of the International Youth General Assembly and has been invited to international youth conferences as delegate and speaker. She also served as a member of Emgage PAC and the advisory council of the PAK Political Action Committee.

Taiba is a social activist and has been active with numerous campaigns and political organizations. She has extensive knowledge of political activities and has maintained a focus on current political issues at the local, state and national levels.

Kristi Rines

Data & Quality Control Manager

Kristi Rines is a Community Engagement Associate for Dauphin and Cumberland Counties.

She was born and raised in rural Chambersburg, PA, where she has enjoyed growing up on the swim team and having access to great state parks for hiking. Sadly, her hometown today is also the only municipality in the state of 71 to have passed and then repeal a non-discrimination ordinance, which provides explicit protections for ethnicity and LGBTQ+ identity. While she still stands with marginalized communities in Chambersburg, she is grateful for the opportunity to reside in Harrisburg and contribute to The New PA Project’s mission.

Kristi received my BA in Communication & Rhetoric and Women’s Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, which helped develop my passion for media literacy and intersectional social justice, respectively. Kristi has spent about 7 years in Pittsburgh before returning to Chambersburg, where she completed a Master of Social Work at Shippensburg University. While she has enjoyed a couple years in mental health therapeutic support, in recent years, she has grown to love applying what she has learned over the last decade to community organizing and activism. Specifically, she is continuing to invest in racial justice, anti-sexual violence, LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, and pro-democracy movements.

Dom Holmes

Regional Organizing Director for Dauphin & Cumberland Counties

Dom Holmes is the Regional organizing director for Dauphin and Cumberland Counties. Dom is a Baltimore, Maryland transplant, who has spent the past decade in and around Central Pennsylvania, spending time in York, Lancaster, and Dauphin counties. Dom graduated from Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 2019 with a Bachelors of Arts in Government & Political Affairs while minoring in African American Studies. He was a first generation college graduate, and has a younger sister who is now attending Millersville University as well.

After the murder of Trayvon Martin, who was only slightly older than Dom at the time, he was moved to become active in community based work to serve those who needed representation and support the most. He became active both in the community and on my campus, which led to leading student organizing for campaigns such as the Jess King Congressional Campaign and both the 2016 and 2020 Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign.

James Latta

Chief Operating Officer

James Latta is the Chief Operating Officer for the New Pennsylvania Project. A lifelong resident of the city of Philadelphia, James knows the importance of registering, encouraging, and activating those who feel that they have no reason to participate in politics and government. James is passionate about building effective, impactful, and sustainable organizations that can do this important work, year after year. He has served in various positions in non-profits, politics, and government, most recently as Operations Director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. James is a graduate of the MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and resides in Philadelphia with his wife.

Katy Personette

Director of Development & Policy

Katy Personette is the Director of Development and Policy with the New Pennsylvania Project.

Katy is passionate about advocating for social justice issues and bringing that spark of activism and engagement on policies to folks in Pennsylvania and beyond. Previously, she was the Deputy Director of Campaigns with PA Budget and Policy Center, focusing on the We The People-PA campaign where she advocated for progressive policies including a fair share tax, adequate and equitable funding for K-12 education, fair housing and a fair return for work among others by calling for bold action from state lawmakers. Katy worked with partners and community leaders to organize and build power across the state to win economic justice and build a stronger, healthier, and more just future for all Pennsylvanians. Katy graduated from Kutztown University where she studied Anthropology and Sociology. After realizing her passion for political activism, she transitioned out of the corporate world and started as a statewide community health organizer for PA Health Access Network. Katy loves baseball, her favorite team being the New York Yankees, Coldplay and cuddling with her dog Nova.

Garcia Enid Santiago

Director of Organizing

Enid V. Santiago joins the New Pennsylvania Project as the Director of Organizing to expand her transformative passion for equity to a state-wide level. In the past, Enid has served as the director of support services for Pennrose, the Senior Site Manager of SBM (Johnson & Johnson account), and multiple titles for JetBlue. Enid has managed multi-million dollar budgets. Enid is most proud of her community leadership and advocacy for equity across all spectrums. As a co-founder and board chair for SELF! LV, a non-profit that supports women in re-entry, Enid has led the organization through a trailblazing year with awards, nominations, and grants. Enid ran two ground-breaking campaigns for state representatives that not only brought out a record number of voters for a primary, but she also elevated the discourse around representation in the Lehigh Valley.

Enid attended Bethlehem Area Public Schools. She has motivated communities to become involved in local politics and work collaboratively for the improvement of all. Women like her are not supposed to make it, yet she has broken all stereotypes and is looking forward to using her passion to mobilize Pennsylvanians to exercise their right to vote.

Enid was born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and is the proud mother of 4 biological children and 2 bonus children. Enid is working on leaving a better world and a legacy her 3 grandchildren can be proud of.

Kadida Kenner

Founding Executive Director of New PA Project & New PA Project Education Fund

Kadida Kenner is the founding executive director of the New Pennsylvania Project, Kadida is a tireless advocate for social and economic justice issues, and is motivated to empower and excite the electorate to enthusiastically vote in every election — all the way down the entire ballot. Kadida has led efforts to stop the passage of a judicial gerrymandering constitutional amendment, raise the minimum wage, fairly fund public education, protect federal courts from problematic judicial nominees, and protect the state courts from extremist attempts to undermine their independence.  

Kadida also serves as co-chair of Why Courts Matter – Pennsylvania, an advocacy campaign seeking to protect the independence of our state and federal courts and educate the electorate about their importance. 

Prior to working in issue advocacy, Kadida was a director, producer, and writer for HBCU sports television programming – both live and scripted television in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia. The Temple University graduate resides in the Philly suburbs and counts civil rights organizing icon, and West Chester, Pennsylvania native Bayard Rustin as one of her civil rights heroes.