Republican gubernatorial hopeful Lynn Swann didn't vote in 20 of the state's 36 elections in the past 18 years, a newspaper reported today, citing voting records from his home county.

The elections Mr. Swann missed included votes for governor, U.S. senator and president, and 13 of his own party's primaries, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

In an October 2004 interview with the Sun-Sentinel newspaper in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Mr. Swann had said, "I have always been someone to believe that when you have certain freedoms, you should exercise them and not take it for granted. If you don't take part in the process and you don't vote, then I am not willing to listen to your complaints."

The Inquirer said Allegheny County voting records showed Mr. Swann voted by absentee ballot in the general election a month later, but missed the GOP primary earlier that year when U.S. Sen. Arlen narrowly turned back a challenge by U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey.

Mr. Swann didn't vote at all in 2003, the newspaper said.

"He regrets not voting," Mr. Swann's campaign spokeswoman, Melissa Walters, said, "and he should have voted." Ms. Walters said Mr. Swann probably missed many votes because he was traveling, though the records showed he voted three times by absentee ballot.

Gov. Ed Rendell, who will face Mr. Swann in November, hasn't missed voting in an election at least back to 1980, the Inquirer said. Mr. Rendell's campaign declined to comment in detail on those Mr. Swann missed.

"It's not for us to explain Mr. Swann's voting record," said Tricia Enright, Mr. Rendell's campaign manager. "That's between him and the voters."