Majority Lackawanna County commissioners reject effort to eliminate ballot drop boxes

SCRANTON — Lackawanna County's Democratic majority commissioners rejected an attempt Wednesday by minority Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak to prevent the use of ballot drop boxes for the Nov. 5 General Election.

It happened at a county election board meeting dominated by public comment largely critical of the drop boxes, which the county has used for elections since 2020. About 30 members of the public attended, including members of a fledgling group called the Lackawanna Election Integrity Force, with several speakers suggesting drop boxes create the potential for fraud and undermine public confidence in the integrity of elections.

Acting in their capacity as election board members, neither Commissioner Bill Gaughan nor Commissioner Matt McGloin would second Chermak's motion to eliminate the drop boxes planned for six locations: the county government center in Scranton, the Fallbrook Senior Community Center in Carbondale and municipal buildings in Clarks Summit, Dickson City, Moosic and Roaring Brook Twp.

Chermak cited security, transparency and ballot chain-of-custody concerns in making his case, describing the continued use of drop boxes as an unnecessary waste of county resources and taxpayer money. Eliminating them will "increase public confidence in our elections and ensure a more efficient use of ... county resources," he said.



https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/majority-lackawanna-county-commissioners-reject-effort-to-eliminate-ballot-drop-boxes/article_94802e5e-7b42-11ef-9d71-bbf7e6c304ae.html