LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Voting machines are already in place at polling sites across Luzerne County, and some new equipment is making its debut this primary day.
"We have new electronic poll books, we will have paper backup. But we purchased new electronic poll books, my understanding is that they're very user friendly," said Luzerne County Manager, Romilda Crocamo.
The electronic polling books are intended to streamline the sign-in process at the polls and were tested during the last election. The poll workers have been trained and sworn in for Tuesday's Primary. Jeanette Holland says she's ready to go.
"It is easier to maneuver; it is easier to hook up. Our instructor was wonderful; she allowed us to come up and look at the equipment," said Holland.
The new equipment and extra training comes as the county is works to eliminate the paper problems that have popped up recently. That includes running out of ballot paper at several sites in the 2022 general election, and again in Hunlock township in 2023.
"That was a fiasco, everyone was scammering around trying to figure out what to do, but yes I was there and I was really upset about the whole situation," said Holland.
"We hope it goes smoothly. It's a very, very daunting process. There a mechanisms inside the mechanisms. We rely on outside vendors and outside individuals. Things happen," added the County Manager.
It also comes just two months after Eryn Harvey, the former Luzerne County Elections director, resigned. Harvey was the county's fifth director since 2019.
"Changes in staff, that's pretty much an every day occurrence in county government and any kind of government and organization. What we need to make sure is the people who are here are prepared. And the people who are here, are prepared," said Crocamo.
As the county says, it's stocked up and ready for voters to cast their ballots.
"Whether there are incidents, or not, of course we want people to trust in the system, we have been as transparent as we possibly can," said Crocamo.
Voting sites open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.