SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There's been a lot of attention lately on ballot drop boxes in northeastern Pennsylvania. Luzerne County won't have them out this election, but in Lackawanna County, the boxes are already set up in several locations Monday afternoon.
The decision to reinstate the ballot drop boxes was made last week by the county's board of elections.
Voters in Lackawanna County now have access to ballot drop boxes.
"So if a voter chooses to utilize a drop box as opposed to bringing their ballot directly into our office or taking it to the post office, they would go to one of the six drop boxes throughout Lackawanna County, and they can only deposit their own ballot in the drop box," said Lackawanna County Director of Elections Beth Hopkins.
To make sure the boxes are safe, several layers of security are in place.
Controversey continues with Luzerne County drop boxes
A voter registration and a Department of Elections staff member will work with a deputy sheriff to collect and secure ballots each day the boxes are in operation.
The boxes will be monitored by 24-hour surveillance and, they're only available for use during business hours of the six locations.
"The ballots are in secure buildings. The ballot drop boxes are only available in those locations, the hours of operations of the buildings, and then the doors are locked at the time that the building is closed," Hopkins added.
Ballot drop boxes have been a highly debated issue nationwide.
Just this month in Luzerne County, officials announced they were doing away with the boxes due to safety and security concerns.
One Lackawanna County voter we spoke with says he's just happy to see people getting out to vote.
"I think anything that gets anyone to vote. this is a very important election with the stakes as high as they are," said Scranton resident Warren Cox.
Mail and absentee ballots went out on Monday in Lackawanna County.
