The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) presented the Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award for political courage to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie for speaking out against false accusations of voter fraud and for promoting civic engagement during the 2024 election.
The award was accepted by Sister Linda Romey, Benedictine Sisters Coordinator of Communications and Development, in a ceremony held on Jan. 29, during the NASS 2026 Winter Conference in Washington, DC. The sisters were originally nominated by Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt.
“In keeping with NASS’ own #TrustedInfo initiative, the sisters used their visible platform to urge all Americans to be discerning consumers of social media and to rely on trusted sources of election information,” Secretary Schmidt said. “I nominated them for this award because they are models of positive and constructive civic engagement."
“Rooted in a long tradition of service to their community, the sisters remind us all that truth and compassion are essential to our democracy,” said NASS President and Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson.
In presenting the award, Executive Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of State Stephanie Reid summarized the events: “Two weeks before the 2024 presidential election, when Pennsylvania was in the national spotlight, a social media influencer posted to X that a ballot chaser had gone to the sisters’ monastery, where 53 voters are registered, and found that no one lived there. His post – which included a video showing the names, ages, and alleged political “affinity” of the nuns – was viewed more than 2.5 million times, drew 33,000 likes, and more than 13,000 comments. But the post was wrong. The sisters live in the monastery and have been serving and doing good work in the Erie area since 1856. They are well-known and beloved members of the community.
“As the post went viral, the sisters were inundated with support from the public. They received calls from more than 25 local, national, and international news organizations. As long-time educators and advocates for social justice, the sisters decided to use the situation as a teachable moment.”
Sister Linda thanked the members of NASS for their work to uphold truth and integrity in these challenging times. “Truth and integrity are also why we did not stay silent when accused of voter fraud,” she said, and noted that hospitality is a primary Benedictine value, that St. Benedict instructs that “all guests are to be received as Christ.” She explained, “we did invite those who accused us of not living in the monastery to come to our home. We would have welcomed them. We would have invited them to join us for prayer and dinner, and we would have asked them about their lives and families and hopes and dreams. In other words, we would have treated them as we treat all those who come to the monastery. It’s humanity 101. It’s love your neighbor. It’s work for the common good. It is what this country was built on, and it is what all of you at
NASS work every day to uphold.”
Photograph: Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, current President of NASS for
2025-2026, Stephanie Reid, who serves as the Executive Deputy Secretary for the
Pennsylvania Department of State, and Benedictine Sister Linda Romey
Photographer: Philip Smith, 1LPhoto for National Association of Secretaries of State
(NASS)
