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October 04, 2024 Knight Election Law Forum

Pennsylvania

The fifth Knight Election Law Forum, a collaboration between Knight Foundation, the American Bar Association’s Task Force for American Democracy and Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, was held on October 4th, 2024. This virtual series aims to equip journalists with essential, nonpartisan, fact-based knowledge on election law to better inform their communities in the lead-up to the 2024 elections and beyond.

Panelists:

  • Honorable Conor Lamb, Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University
  • Eric Kraeutler, Committee of Seventy
  • Kathy Boockvar, former PA Secretary of State 

Co-moderated by:

  • Tracie Potts, Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College
  • Katie Meyer, Spotlight PA

The event focuses on Pennsylvania’s specific election law issues, tailored for local journalists. This event provides practical, nonpartisan, fact-based guidance on understanding state election laws, ensuring journalists are prepared to cover critical election issues accurately and effectively.

Resources

Urban-Rural Action and Common Ground USA Pennsylvania

A non-partisan civic participation program October 2022 - September 2024  that brings community members together across political, racial, generational, geographic, and other differences to address causes of targeted violence.

Committee of Seventy

Established in 1904 to combat corruption in Philadelphia, playing a major role in the adoption of civil service reforms and the passage of the 1919 and 1951 Home Rule Charters.

Act 88

Pennsylvania Fair Elections

Group active in election issues in Pennsylvania.

Election Official Legal Defense Fund

The Election Official Legal Defense Network EOLDN is a project of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research CEIR. EOLDN connects elections officials in need of advice or assistance with licensed, qualified, pro bono attorneys and with communications professionals at no cost.

Committee for Safe and Secure Elections

Features cross‑partisan experts in election administration and law enforcement who aim to support policies and practices that protect election workers and voters from violence, threats, and intimidation.

Pennsylvania Department of State

Access point to county-by-county information on voting systems and processes0

National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL

Advancing the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislatures in the states, territories and commonwealths of the United States.

Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College

Connects aspiring young leaders with public policy experts to discover their passion and tackle society’s most challenging issues.

Spotlight PA

An independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom dedicated to high-quality investigative and public-service journalism about the Pennsylvania state government and urgent statewide issues.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act

Landmark federal legislation providing concrete protections for voting rights and prohibiting discrimination in elections.

Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

A nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization created by and comprised of state election officials from around the United States to help election officials maintain more accurate voter rolls and detect possible illegal voting.

Electoral Count Reform Act 2022

Clarifies the procedures for counting electoral votes, limits the role of the vice president to a ceremonial capacity, and raises the threshold for objections in Congress to prevent future attempts to overturn election results.

Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky

Landmark decision of the US Supreme Court concerning the constitutionality of governmental speech restrictions in a polling place venue.