Auditor General DePasquale Urges Increasing Voter Awareness for Berks County Polling Place Moved from Kutztown University

October 29 2013

Auditor General DePasquale Urges Increasing Voter Awareness for Berks County Polling Place Moved from Kutztown University

HARRISBURG (Oct. 29, 2013)– One week before the election, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said he wants Berks County officials to ensure every effort possible is made to improve awareness and access for voters accustomed to the polling place moved from the Kutztown University campus.

DePasquale said he is concerned that voters who discover the change at the last-minute may decide not to participate in the November general election.

“We should be making every effort possible to help anyone who wants to exercise their right to vote. We should smooth out any bumps that could discourage voters,” DePasquale said.

“State and local election officials should be investing our limited tax dollars on increasing voter awareness and participation, not throwing money at something that may or may not happen sometime down the road,” DePasquale said, noting that the state is spending $1 million to advertise a VoterID law that Commonwealth Court explicitly barred from enforcement in the Nov. 5 general election.

In a split vote in August, the Berks County Commissioners voted to move the polling place for the third district from Kutztown University four miles away to the Maxatawny Township municipal building.

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