A bipartisan collection of former elected officials helped to launch the Democracy Defense Project (DDP). The project supports the transparency, safety, security and validity of the elections system. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, former U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart and former State House Speaker Keith McCall will serve as board members of the DDP in Pennsylvania.

 At a time when America’s confidence in the state of our elections and democracy has significantly eroded, the DDP brings together leaders to bolster our faith in the integrity of our elections system. 

Designed to serve as a counterweight to attempts to undermine and sow distrust in election integrity, the project’s board members will speak up when these instances arise and publicly defend those who have sworn to uphold the rule of law. 

Rendell, who also is the former chair of the Democratic National Committee and a Philadelphia mayor and district attorney, will serve on the board of directors and spearhead initiatives in Pennsylvania to preserve election integrity, foster greater confidence in election results and improve voter participation across the state.

“Our elections go to the heart of everything we do as a government,” Rendell said. “They can remain the gold standard if we unite behind preserving and restoring public faith in the integrity of our electoral system. It’s not something we should do; it is something we must do.”

Other board members are former U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, a Republican who represented western Pennsylvania from 2001-2007 and previously served 10 years in the state  senate, and former state house speaker Keith McCall, who represented communities in northeastern Pennsylvania from 1982 to 2011.

“This effort isn’t for or against any candidate or political party,” Hart said. “It’s here to cut through the noise and defend lawful election processes, so the public can confidently vote and have faith in the results.”

McCall added, “Every person’s right to vote lies at the heart of our democracy. It is critical that regardless of who you’re voting for or how you’re casting your ballot, individuals have trust in our electoral process.”

The organization will use earned and paid media to run a campaign to raise awareness of efforts to subvert elections across the country and help move us beyond polarizing rhetoric. 

Democracy Defense Project’s board of directors includes leaders with service at the federal, state and local levels; the group’s founding board members include Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ), Gov. Nathan Deal (R-GA), Gov. Brian Sandoval (R-NV), Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA), Gov. Roy Barnes (D-GA), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) and Ambassador Richard Swett (D-NH). 

More information on the Democracy Defense Project can be found at www.democracydefenseproject.org/pa.