EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — Election Day is now less than two weeks away and efforts continue around the nation and here in Pennsylvania to ensure a fair, accurate, and safe election process.
Luzerne County officials are ramping up security measures.
28/22 News was outside the county-owned Penn Place Office Building.
The election bureau is located on the second floor.
It's all about safety and security: So says County Manager Romilda Crocamo and it starts by preventing people from seeing inside this building.
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This may look like just a typical window cleaning or maintenance project but it's something much more serious.
It's a protective covering being put in the inside of the windows at the Penn Place Office Building.
County officials describe it as a "ballistic covering." It will reduce the chances of the window shattering or being penetrated if something is thrown at or even shot at the window.
"I'm doing this in part because my obligation is to make sure my staff is safe that the building is safe and of course that the ballots are safe. We are doing everything to make sure this election is fair free and safe for everyone," Crocamo explained.
A mail-in ballot drop box is located in the lobby of the building, as are voting stations for people to fill out mail-in ballots and then drop them directly into the drop box.
"We invited Homeland Security to come in and assess this building and they did and this is one of their suggestions. It wasn't mandatory. It is one of their suggestions and we're doing it," Crocamo added.
Another recommendation was the placement of these large boulders around the perimeter of Penn Place to prevent vehicles from driving into the parking lot or the building.
28/22 News spoke to voters who came to Penn Place to vote by mail and asked what they think about all of this.
"It's very very scary. When you can't go anywhere you need security really need security. Things have gotten so bad," said Larksville resident Margaret Morris.
"It's the world we live in today Andy, and they need security everywhere not only here but different events take place," said Jack Bravyak from Forty Fort.
Crocamo tells 28/22 News her staff has received what she describes as "disturbing messages" in recent months.
