LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Attorney General is urging Luzerne County's manager to abide by the law regarding a controversial decision to remove mail-in ballot drop boxes.
The decision to remove them came back in September and has been under investigation.
The Attorney General sent a letter Thursday instructing Romilda Crocamo to comply with the law that she can't overrule the Board of Election's decision to keep the drop boxes.
If she does not comply, she could face civil and criminal consequences.
A letter Thursday night from Attorney General Michelle Henry to Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo states in part:
Should you fail to comply with a lawful instruction or order, the board of elections could take action including filing a civil mandamus action to compel performance.
Attorney General Michelle Henry
In other words, the attorney general is ordering Crocamo to follow the county's board of election's decision, which is to keep the mail-in-ballot drop boxes.
The American Civil Liberates Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit on Wednesday over the removal decision.
What we know of ACLU lawsuit filed in Luzerne County
The ACLU says state law demonstrates the county's board of elections should have made the decision, not the county manager.
According to Attorney General Henry, Crocamo could potentially face criminal consequences if she does not comply.
28/22 News has reached out to Crocamo for comment and she told us to contact her attorney, Attorney Mark Cedrone, who provided the following statement:
Romilda is a highly respected and responsible county manager and will respect any decision made by the Luzerne County Board of Elections. She had no intention on overstepping her authority and only made the decision out of the concern for the safety and security of our election. Romilda will work with Board to address any and all concerns regarding the drop boxes.
Attorney Mark Cedrone
The controversy stems from several reasons.
Crocamo wants to get rid of the drop boxes for safety and security purposes, while officials like Senator Marty Flynn, who sent a letter to Attorney General Henry, believe it's going too far.
The elimination of these drop boxes—used securely and reliably since 2020—disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable populations, including senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, those working long shifts, and residents without access to reliable transportation.
Senator Marty Flynn
You can read the full statement released by the Pennsylvania's Attorney General below.
You can also read the letter sent to the Attorney General's Office by Senator Marty Flynn below.
Drop-box-investigation-letterDownload
