The move stems from concerns about the boxes being open to unauthorized access.
Officials in a Pennsylvania county are not going to use drop boxes for the upcoming presidential election, over concerns that the boxes could be subject to tampering.
The boxes are used in a number of states. Voters can drop mail-in ballots into the boxes.
Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo said in a statement to news outlets that the county will not use the boxes in November because she cannot vouch for the boxes remaining secure.
“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.
Crocamo said that the county does not have the capability to man the drop boxes to keep them safe, and that she’s concerned about illegal activities such as people depositing multiple ballots into the boxes.
“Although video surveillance may seem like a solution, it is not a foolproof means of ensuring compliance with voting laws,” she said.
County officials recently disclosed that video surveillance from the April primary election from a drop box was unavailable due to what it described as a miscommunication.
Another reason to not use drop boxes is the cost of insuring them, Crocamo said in her statement. The insurance policy has a $10,000 limit, which exposes the county to significant financial risk if any incidents occur, she said.
Luzerne County is in northeastern Pennsylvania and has about 326,000 residents. Its largest city is Wilkes-Barre.
Four boxes have been used in the county in recent elections, including one at a facility where seniors live.
Crocamo said she went to that facility, Wright Manor, with the county’s chief solicitor to examine the drop box and found that it’s situated in a vestibule with an outer door that is open 24 hours a day, with no personnel stationed nearby.
“This lack of oversight raises significant concerns about the potential for unauthorized access and misuse,” she said.
Two other boxes, at Misericordia University and the Broad Street Exchange, are in locations that remain accessible late into the evening, which complicates security, according to Crocamo.
The fourth box is at the Penn Place Building.
Crocamo said that people voting by mail can drop their ballots off at the election bureau, which is in Suite 207 at the Penn Place Building.
Luzerne County Board of Elections Chairwoman Denise Williams was presented with the plan and supported the move to not use the boxes, Crocamo said.
Alyssa Fusaro, vice chair of the board, told The Epoch Times she supports the move.
“I’m very happy,” she said.
Fusaro said Crocamo’s action was a bold move but that Crocamo “has been one to cross the boundaries” and “brings everybody to the center.”
Although the decision is technically only for the presidential election, Fusaro expects the drop boxes will not be used in future elections due to the concerns Crocamo detailed.