WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo on Wednesday scuttled the use of ballot drop boxes during the upcoming November election because of staffing shortages.
In a notice to county election officials, Crocamo cited security concerns and financial risk as reasons for not deploying drop boxes.
“While I recognize that drop boxes can provide alternative means for voters to cast their ballots, I must prioritize the safety and security of our community in the current political climate,” she said. "We don't have the capability, we don't have the number of staff members to actually stand by the drop boxes to keep them safe, so I decided I'm not going to deploy them."
Crocamo said in her notice she worried about the potential for “illegal activities.” Although video surveillance is a check, it is not a “foolproof means of ensuring compliance with voting laws,” she said.
With the removal of ballot drop boxes, mail-in voters will now have to mail in their ballot or drop it off at the Bureau of Elections. Crocamo believes this decision will help the county manage this year's election.
"Mail-in Ballots come in from a dropbox; we have to have two staff also do a chain of custody, so actually, it does drain a lot of our resources," added Crocamo.
"The insurance policy on the drop boxes also has a $10,000 limit, which exposes the county to financial risk should a problem arise," she said.
Crocamo encouraged voters to drop off their ballots directly at the county election bureau, 20 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre.
Some voters are happy with the county's decision.
"It's a waste of resources; we have 186 precincts along with mail-in ballots, which the postal service is going to be overladen with, to have the drop boxes in place; there really isn't a purpose for them," said Ronald Knapp of Nanticoke.
Others shared their disapproval at Wednesday's election board meeting.
"If they're not gonna have drop boxes, what are we going to do about our mail system," said Roni Good of Kingston. "I know people whose votes didn't get counted because they were late."
There still isn't any word on when mail-in ballots will be sent.