The Benedictine Sisters of Erie, who called out a social media post alleging fraudulent voter registrations at a monastery's residence, have won a national award.

They were awarded the National Democracy Award from the National Association of Secretaries of State.

“The Sisters thoughtfully confronted the baseless claims and used their time in the spotlight to warn the public that a free republic depends on a discerning and conscientious citizenry who do not unquestioningly accept the word of anyone who has a social media platform," Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Al Schmidt said.

Weeks before the 2024 presidential election, a social media influencer posted to X, that "NO ONE lives" at the Sisters' monastery in Erie, where 53 voters were registered. 

Schmidt commended the sisters on their effort to correct the misinformation publicly.

The award will be presented at a conference in Washington, D.C.