(WHTM) — Proposals to expand voting access in Pennsylvania were pushed on Tuesday by the most powerful woman in the State House. Over in the State Senate, a move to eliminate mail-in ballot drop boxes altogether was on the table.

To increase registration and participation House Speaker Joanna McClinton wants to allow in-person voting two weeks before Election Day and voter registration on Election Day.

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“This is the birthplace of democracy and our nation,” McClinton said. “So we’ve got to do better. We want to make sure that it’s convenient for people to vote safely.”

“I think that’s a horrible idea,” State Rep. Bryan Cutler said.

House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler says same-day registration would add more chaos on election day. As for convenience?

“I would offer that it already is as easy as possible,” Cutler said. “You can register online. You can register by paper.”

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“This same day, voter registration is a welcomed modern-day reform,” Philadelphia City Commissioner Lisa Deely said.

Deeley runs elections for Philadelphia, the state’s biggest county.

“What it will do is cut down on errors and actually also because we can fix people’s record in real-time,” Deely said.

But counties run elections, not lawmakers and not the state. The County Commissioners Association said it would need more money and more time, adding “while many of these changes are well-intended, Pennsylvania’s election system and laws are currently not set up to facilitate their implementation.”

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While the House discussed expanding voter access, the Senate, pushed contraction. Senate Bill 99 would eliminate drop boxes for mail-in ballots.

“I’m not going to be supporting Senate Bill 99 because I do believe that we should be adding more drop boxes, not less,” said State Senator Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton).

The bill, introduced by State Senator Cris Dush (R-Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, Mckean, Potter), passed out of committee.

“This bill is not intended to undermine convenience, but to uphold electoral integrity, which the people of this Commonwealth have been scrambling and demanding,” Dush said.

“I look forward this spring to sit down with Senator Dush to talk about how to make it easier for people to vote,” McClinton said.

McClinton’s early voting would take effect in 2026, and same-day registration in 2027.

As for the next election, it’s April 23.

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