Pennsylvania officials get naked to address the importance of secrecy envelopes in mail-in ballots

Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam wants to make sure every vote counts in the upcoming presidential election. So, she decided to get naked.

Hallam and other elected officials this weekend launched a campaign featuring photos of them shirtless with graphics of mail-in ballots tastefully draped across their chests. The point is to remind voters who cast their ballots by mail to place the ballot in the mandatory secrecy envelope — and not send a “naked ballot,” which would invalidate the vote. The message also reminds voters to sign the voter declaration.

“If you don’t do even one of those two things, your ballot will be thrown out and you won’t even know,” Hallam said. “If we have to get naked to get this message across, that’s what we’re willing to do.”

Desperate times call for desperate measures! So your favorite elected officials got naked so that you remember to make sure that your mail-in ballot is NOT submitted without its secrecy envelope!! #nonakedballots #dressyourballot pic.twitter.com/bQXaQRHj0j

— Bethany Hallam (@bethanyhallam) September 26, 2020

Hallam came up with the idea after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that mail-in ballots had to be rejected if not enclosed in the proper secrecy envelope, a victory for President Donald Trump’s campaign. As described by the Associated Press, the secrecy envelope is “essentially an unmarked envelope that holds the ballot inside the return envelope and theoretically shields election officials and people authorized to watch vote counting from knowing a voter’s choices.”

State experts have predicted that at least 100,000 votes could be invalidated because the ballots aren’t put in the proper envelope and become “naked ballots.” That’s a huge concern for Democrats — especially in a battleground state like Pennsylvania — which Trump won by a mere 44,000 votes in 2016.

“There’s a lot misinformation going around about mail-in voting. It’s brand new. Most voters, this is the first time they’re ever voting by mail,” Hallam said. “I reached out to my friends who are elected officials, as well, and I was like, ‘Hey, I have this wild idea. Let’s get naked to try to save our democracy.’ ”

Joining Hallam in the first round of the campaign were Allegheny County Council member Olivia “Liv” Bennett and Emily Kinkead. Bennett represents District 13. Kinkead is running for a state House seat in the 20th District. All are Democrats.

No one wants a naked politician - or a naked ballot! Don't forget your secrecy envelope when you mail in your ballot. #NoNakedBallots #DressYourBallot @bethanyhallam @LivFor13 pic.twitter.com/wXInsC77Q4

— Emily Kinkead for State Representative District 20 (@emily4pa20) September 26, 2020

The women have received a litany of comments, both positive and negative, since the campaign launched on Saturday. One of the commenters was former U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, a Republican from Sewickley.

“And this is the crowd that thinks @RealDonaldTrump is vulgar? Really?” Rothfus tweeted.

And this is the crowd that thinks @RealDonaldTrump is vulgar? Really?

So looking forward to confirmation of #ACB as our next #SupremeCourt Justice. https://t.co/AfML9NWLVU

— Keith Rothfus (@KeithRothfus) September 27, 2020

Hallam and Kinkead said good or bad, any form of publicity is drawing attention to the issue. Which is what they wanted.

A phone message left for Republican National Committee regional spokesperson Michael Joyce wasn’t immediately returned Sunday.

“People are talking about it. It’s getting a lot of attention to just the existence of secrecy ballots,” Kinkead said. “We’re getting people who are saying, ‘I didn’t even know about the secrecy envelope.’ ”

Thanks for keeping me abreast of these voting regulations.

— Jerry Easley (@jerrydeasley) September 27, 2020

Hahaha this is amazing!

— Allison Ball (@allisonball570) September 27, 2020

Ok, I’m gonna say it, this is #Stupid beyond words. Also, it’s Highly inappropriate. #EverythingIsStupid

— Benevolent Queen 🙂 (@queenmaya1) September 27, 2020

This is a great idea! Super clever and creative!

— (((Stay Home, Save Lives))) (@swww2198) September 27, 2020

Nobody asked for this

— Steve in Crowtown (@StevenCrowtown) September 27, 2020

Voter education never stops.

— Lisa Deeley Smith (@LisaDeeleySmith) September 27, 2020

Other Democratic elected officials who will join the campaign on Monday include Etna Councilwoman Jessica Semler, state Rep. Sara Innamorato, who represents the 21st District, and Duquesne Mayor Nickole Nesby.

“It’s our bodies,” Hallam said. “We’re going to do what we want with our bodies to achieve the goal that we think is important.”

Democrats in Pennsylvania, and other parts of the country, have been far more likely than Republicans to request mail-in ballots for this year’s general election. But Hallam said this isn’t a partisan issue. She just wants to make sure everyone who is voting by mail knows how to do it properly.

“I’m not just trying to protect Democratic voters. I’m trying to make sure all voters ballots are counted,” Hallam said.