WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — We are about 15 hours and counting away until polls open in Pennsylvania. Election officials from around the Commonwealth and in northeastern Pennsylvania are making their final preparations for Election Day 2024.
The Bureau of Elections is located on the second floor of the Luzerne County-owned Penn Place Building.
The barricades outside the office are part of added security for the building.
One after another, 28/22 News saw people entering the Penn Place Building to drop their mail-in ballots into a dropbox located in the lobby.
Voters 28/22 News spoke with say they believe this is the most crucial election in the history of the nation.
Where to Vote: Find your polling place in Pennsylvania
Lisa Morrow from Shavertown says these issues are important to her.
"I think that Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, because of my mother a woman's right to choose," Morrow explained.
Others like Patricia Arnold from Harveys Lake say they wanted their voice to be heard with their vote.
"Have you ever seen this before?" 28/22 News I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick asked.
"No, it's never been like this before. I've been voting since I was 18 and I'm 67. That's many, many years of voting," Arnold explained.
Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo had this warning for anyone who might be thinking about causing problems.
"If there is any violence at the polls, our response will be swift and severe. Law enforcement is at the ready and it will not be tolerated at all," Crocamo stated.
Security has been increased at Penn Place with barricades, boulders, and shatterproof glass covering.
During our interview with Crocamo, 28/22 News heard her phone sound an alarm.
"Do you want to get that?" Mehalshick asked.
"If something happens, there are certain individuals in the county that will get notice of an emergency and that was the confirmation. We've been practicing different drills. I'm glad to report our system is working," Crocamo explained.
Crocamo also issued the following statement in anticipation of Tuesday:
As we approach Election Day, we want to remind all voters of the essential procedures and expectations for a smooth voting experience. Polls will open promptly at 7:00 a.m. and we encourage all voters to plan their visits accordingly.
While we strive for a seamless process, there may be instances where poll workers and judges face delays or are unable to arrive on time. In such cases, it is important to note that poll workers and judges will need to power up the voting machines before the polls can officially open. We appreciate your patience as these necessary preparations are made.
If you encounter any issues while voting, please report them directly to the election judge before leaving the polling location. This will help ensure that any problems are addressed appropriately and promptly.
We would like to emphasize that we will not be monitoring or responding to inquiries posted on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, or X. Our focus is on providing a secure and efficient voting environment.
Furthermore, we take the integrity of the election process very seriously. Any disruptions or acts of violence will be met with a swift and severe response to maintain the safety and security of all participants. Our law enforcement is at the ready.
Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to exercising your right to vote. Luzerne County respects the rule of law, not violence. Together, we can ensure a fair and peaceful Election Day.
Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo
The added security is not going unnoticed by journalists from around the world.
Poul Skammelsen is in Pennsylvania reporting for the Danish Television Network.
"What got your attention in Luzerne County?" Mehalshick asked.
"This where we're standing outside election headquarters here. All the security measures taken here, that it is necessary to put boulders around here because they're afraid of what could happen on Election Day or after the Election Day if people don't believe in the results," Skammelsen said.
28/22 News has also been receiving calls and emails from people in Luzerne County who say they cannot track or find the status of their mail-in ballots on the Department of State website.
The I-Team has confirmed it's a loading and tracking problem.
A spokesperson for the Department of State tells 28/22 News they are working with Luzerne County officials on the problem.
The Department has been working with Luzerne County officials for a few weeks to ensure they are able to properly record received mail ballots and their statuses for the ballot tracker. We continue to provide guidance and support to county officials as they work through this.
Pennsylvania Department of State Office of Communications and Press Director Amy Gulli
The Pennsylvania Department of State also released the following statement ahead of Election Day:
The Department of State has never had final results on Election Night, regardless of whether media outlets project a winner on that night or a later date.
While the Department is confident that counties will work diligently to count every eligible ballot cast, it cannot predict what percentage of votes will be counted on Election Night. Since the passage of Act 88 of 2022, which established the Election Integrity Grant program, counties that receive an Election Integrity Grant must begin their pre-canvass at 7 a.m. on Election Day and must continue without interruption until every mail-in ballot and absentee ballot received by 7 a.m. on Election Day is pre-canvassed. Counties that received an Election Integrity Grant must begin counting at 8 p.m. on Election Day and must continue without interruption until all mail-in and absentee ballots are counted.
Hundreds of thousands – sometimes millions – of mail ballots are cast in every election, and current state law does not permit counties to begin opening these ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day. That means county election officials cannot even remove the ballots from the envelopes and prepare them to be scanned until that time – on a day when those same officials are also running more than 9,000 polling places across the state.
Then, under the Election Code, counties may not even begin to record and publish mail ballot results until after the polls close at 8 p.m. Election Day.
Counties may submit unofficial numbers for the Department’s online Election Night Reporting tool after polls close at 8pm on Election Day; unofficial returns will continue to be updated on the website throughout the night and in the subsequent days.
Pennsylvania Department of State Press Secretary Matt Heckel with the Office of Communications and Press
