Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women are a critically important voting demographic. However, an alarming percentage of us are not even registered to vote. Increased political participation is not only important for sportsmen and women’s issues, but for our democracy. Additionally, throughout the country, hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting are impacted by laws passed by elected officials who may not fully understand or appreciate our time-honored outdoor heritage. This is why it is critical for sportsmen and women to become more involved in the political process, starting with registering to vote.
Highlights:
- Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Greg Rothman introduced Senate Bill 1155 (SB 1155). This legislation aims to provide the opportunity for sportsmen and women to register to vote when they purchase a hunting and/or fishing license at a government agency or office, which is very similar to the motor voter law.
- According to Sen. Rothman, over 30% of hunters in Pennsylvania are not registered to vote, which is a large number, as the Commonwealth ranks only second to Texas in the most hunting license sales in the entire United States.
- As one of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s Top 10 Legislative Priorities, testimony was provided in support of this critically important piece of legislation.
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993, better known as the “motor voter law”, required states to offer voter registration opportunities at their motor vehicle agencies (MVA/DMV). Similarly, SB 1155 will give citizens the opportunity to register to vote when purchasing a hunting or fishing license at a government agency or office. Because the documentation requirements for hunting and/or fishing licensure are the same as voter registration, providing this opportunity will improve government processes and create efficiencies for Pennsylvanians.
To provide context to the impact that sportsmen and women have in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth is second to Texas in the sale of hunting licenses across the entire US. In 2025 alone, there were over 1 million hunting licenses sold in the state.,. Additionally, portsmen and women generated more than $125 million dollars in conservation funding for the Commonwealth and spent more than $41 billion dollars on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting, which does not include spending on items such as trips and travel, or license fees that were necessary for their participation. This spending helped fuel the outdoor economy, which comprised 1.7% of Pennsylvania’s GDP that same year. As you can see, sportsmen and women play an impactful role across many areas of the Commonwealth.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Greg Rothman for moving forward with this imperative piece of legislation. We look forward to working with the members of the Caucus and the legislature to encourage its passage.