The Pennsylvania Department of State has announced a new $10.6 million contract with Civix, a Louisiana-based technology company, to upgrade the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) system. The SURE system is used by counties for voter registration, managing records, printing poll books, processing mail ballot applications, and other election-related tasks.
The contract includes integrating the SURE system with other state-run election systems, such as election night reporting, campaign finance, and lobbying disclosure. This integration aims to create a seamless experience for election administration, providing a “one-stop-shop” for various election-related functions. The new system will also have a public portal for easy access to guidance documents, elections data, and information about upcoming elections.
The need for this upgrade stems from the outdated nature of the current SURE system, which was built in the early 2000s before the state adopted no-excuse mail voting in 2019. Local election officials have reported issues with the system crashing and inefficiencies in processing mail ballot applications. The project was initially started in 2019, but the original contract was canceled in 2023 due to the company’s inability to meet deadlines and standards.
Officials, including Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt and Mercer County’s election director Thad Hall, have expressed optimism about the new project. They believe that the integration of various election systems will improve user experience and efficiency. A detailed timeline of the project is expected to be available in the coming weeks, with completion targeted for 2028.
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