LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — County Manager Romilda Crocamo announced there will be no mail ballot drop boxes in Luzerne County during the November 5 General Election.
Crocamo says she has made the decision not to deploy drop boxes for the upcoming election due to fears the drop box locations offer a potential for illegal activities in this current political climate, such as individuals depositing multiple ballots.
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In a statement, Crocamo said in part, the following about the locations where the drop boxes would have been placed:
I visited Wright Manor with the Chief County Solicitor to assess the proposed drop box location. Although the venue is attractive, the drop box is situated in a vestibule with an outer door that remains open 24 hours a day. Furthermore, there is no personnel stationed nearby to monitor the second entry door that requires a passcode. This lack of oversight raises significant concerns about the potential for unauthorized access and misuse.
Similarly, at Misericordia University, the doors remain open late into the evening, posing additional risks. The Broad Street Exchange, which also remains accessible to the public late at night due to its tenants, further complicates the security of any drop box placed there. At Penn Place, while it may be possible to place a box inside requiring individuals to pass through a metal detector, the glass layout of the building presents its own challenges.
Although video surveillance may seem like a solution, it is not a foolproof means of ensuring compliance with voting laws."
Romilda Crocamo, Luzerne County Manager
The county encourages voters to drop off their ballots directly at the election bureau, where workers can monitor the number of ballots being submitted.
"My commitment is to protect the safety of our citizens and the integrity of our electoral process. The financial implications of deploying drop boxes also weigh heavily on my decision. The current insurance policy for these boxes offers a mere $10,000 limit, exposing the county to significant financial risk in the event of any incidents," Crocamo continued.
Polls will open at 7:00 a.m. on Election Day, November 5, and remain open until 8:00 p.m. No ballots will be accepted after that time.
