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“You have jails with the actual policies in place, and there’s a gap between the policy and actual implementation,” said Khalif Ali, head of Common Cause Pennsylvania. “If you simply say, ‘Oh, yeah, you guys can vote,’ and there’s nothing else, you’re essentially telling them: ‘Figure it out.’”

In a separate statement, Common Cause PA executive director Khalif Ali said a fiscal statement revealed a one-time implementation cost for the bill’s requirements at $99 million with annual costs approaching $19 million. “That’s an awful lot of taxpayer money for the Legislature to spend, to implement a bill that will make it harder for us to cast ballots and have our voices heard,” Ali said.

However Common Cause, an election integrity group which prides itself as a network of democracy experts says it’s a matter of human error. “Don’t get me wrong, the timing is great but we don’t consider it to be a systemic issue so we’re not ready to raise any red flags just yet," said Khalif Ali, Executive Director of Common Cause. Ali says it’s still important to vote.

“Citizens should have the right to have input on anyone who has the potential to represent them, regardless of what they’re registered as,” Khalif Ali, the executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, told City & State.

"There should be complete transparency. People should always know where your donations come from and exactly what the dollar amount is," Ali said.

Hosted by Pittsburgh United and moderated by Khalif Ali, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, the forum was an opportunity for Mayor Bill Peduto, state Rep. Ed Gainey, retired police officer Tony Moreno and math tutor/ride-share driver Michael Thompson to answer questions and debate issues ranging from policing to city infrastructure.