Gov. Tom Wolf intends to name Leigh M. Chapman to serve as Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth. Chapman will replace Acting Secretary Veronica Degraffenreid, who will be elevated to serve in the administration as a special advisor to the governor.
“Acting Secretary Degraffenreid has served with distinction over the past year, administering two smooth elections, and spearheading the modernization of key IT infrastructure. I commend her for her steady leadership during a challenging period in election administration, and look forward to working closely with her in her new role,” said Wolf. “As we move into a new year and new election cycle, I have full confidence that Leigh M. Chapman will continue the department’s efforts to lead Pennsylvania through a smooth election process and ensure that Pennsylvania voters continue to experience free and fair elections, among many responsibilities.”
Chapman currently serves as executive director of Deliver My Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on research and education about voting by mail. She previously held senior leadership positions at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and several other nonprofit election reform and advocacy organizations. From 2015 to 2017, Chapman served as policy director at the Department of State, advancing key agenda items, including the implementation of electronic voter registration.
She is a graduate of the Howard University School of Law and the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in American studies and history.
“I am honored and excited to be returning to the Department of State to serve as Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Chapman. “Throughout my career I have worked to ensure that voting rights are protected, and to improve access to the ballot box. I look forward to continuing that work in my new role, and to build on the tremendously successful election reforms in Pennsylvania over the last several years.”
Chapman will serve as Acting Secretary beginning Jan. 8.
