Grimm Krupa: Department of State Admits Error, Commits to Reforms Following Election Day Failures

1/20/2026

SMITHFIELD – Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) issued this statement following a meeting with Pennsylvania Department of State officials and fellow legislators regarding reports of multiple issues at the polls in Fayette County during Election Day in November 2025:

“At my request, I met today via Zoom with Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, Deputy Secretary for Elections and Commissions Jonathan Marks, Sen. Pat Stefano, and Rep. Ryan Warner to address the serious Election Day failures that affected voters in Fayette County and the 51st Legislative District.

“I appreciate that the secretary made clear from the outset that this was not a minor issue and that the Department of State is treating it with the seriousness it deserves.

“During the meeting, the department confirmed that the incorrect voter information appearing on electronic pollbooks was the result of human error, caused by outdated voter data being uploaded and transmitted by the Department of State to the vendor responsible for the electronic polling pads. The department acknowledged that the wrong file was sent and that this error directly impacted Election Day operations.

“Just as importantly, the department acknowledged that gaps existed in its quality control processes – gaps that should never have allowed outdated voter data to be used in a live election.

“The department outlined specific corrective actions that have already been implemented and will be in place for the 2026 primary and all elections moving forward, including:

• Archiving voter files so historical data remains accessible but cannot be mistakenly used for current elections.
• Reorganizing electronic data systems to eliminate confusion and reduce the risk of human error.
• Requiring multiple layers of verification by the department, counties and vendors to confirm that the correct election year data is being used on electronic devices.
• Implementing internal tracking systems to ensure more than one individual verifies the accuracy of voter data before it is released.

“These steps are necessary, and they should have been in place already.

“While I appreciate the department’s acknowledgment of responsibility and its commitment to reform, this situation serves as a serious reminder: the right to vote is too important to be left vulnerable to preventable errors.

“Every eligible voter must be able to walk into a polling place with confidence: confidence that their registration is correct, that the system is accurate and that their vote will be counted exactly as intended.

“I will continue to follow this issue closely and work with my colleagues in the General Assembly to ensure accountability, transparency and election integrity moving forward.

“The people of the 51st District, and all Pennsylvanians, deserve nothing less.

Representative Charity Grimm Krupa
51st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: 724-438-6100
RepGrimmKrupa.com / Facebook.com/RepGrimmKrupa