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Crocamo also emphasized that security cameras positioned over ballot drop boxes, a solution used by other states, do not guarantee the prevention of fraudulent activity. “Video is not a foolproof means of ensuring compliance with voting laws,” she stated. In her view, video surveillance is unable to distinguish between legitimate ballots and those that could be fraudulent, illegally harvested, or forged.
The removal of drop boxes has also been influenced by fiscal concerns. Crocamo explained that managing the drop boxes places significant strain on county resources. “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,” she said. Additionally, she pointed out that the county’s insurance policy on drop boxes carries a $10,000 limit, which poses a financial risk should any problems arise.
The decision has stirred mixed reactions among voters in the county. Some believe that removing the drop boxes is a necessary step to protect county resources, while others feel it could potentially disenfranchise voters. One local resident, Ronald Knapp of Nanticoke, voiced his support for the 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,” he said.
However, not all voters share that sentiment. Roni Good, a resident of Kingston, expressed concern about the mail system’s reliability in the absence of drop boxes. “If they’re not gonna have drop boxes, what are we going to do about our mail system. I know people whose votes didn’t get counted because they were late,” she said, pointing out that delays in mail delivery could lead to some votes not being counted.
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Pennsylvania is poised to play a crucial role in the upcoming election, with every vote expected to matter. A recent poll from The Hill highlighted the importance of the Keystone State, showing a dead heat between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, each securing 49% support. The poll also revealed Trump leading in other key states, including Michigan and Wisconsin.
Interestingly, even Democratic officials in Pennsylvania have acknowledged the tight race. U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) made headlines in August when he inadvertently predicted that Trump would win Pennsylvania. “I think if you match up Trump with Harris, and I think that’s what this is really about, and I do believe he’s going to win Pennsylvania. And I do believe it’s going to be close,” Fetterman said during a Newsmax interview, suggesting that the state is still up for grabs.
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Concerns about fraud at ballot drop boxes are not new, and there have been past incidents that have fueled skepticism. In Massachusetts, for example, a local city council candidate faced charges of voter fraud after surveillance footage allegedly captured her raiding mailboxes in search of illegally cast ballots. Such incidents have only heightened fears about the security of drop boxes and the integrity of the mail-in voting process.
As the election approaches, the elimination of ballot drop boxes in Luzerne County underscores the ongoing debate about how to balance voter access with election security. For now, Pennsylvania voters will have to adapt to the changes as the state once again takes center stage in the national political spotlight.
