Edited to correct name spelling mistake and add a title that was accidentally cut in editing.
File photo from 2020
This story was first published in The Titusville Herald
Tuesday the Venango County Commissioners voted to discontinue the use of the ballot return drop box that was introduced during the COVID-restriction 2020 election.
The box sat, securely locked, outside the Venango County Courthouse Annex.
“We’re just trying to get ahead of this,” said commissioner Mike Dulaney, who added that the state is moving towards eliminating use of ballot drop boxes.
“It’s a local decision,” Sabrina Backer Director of Election for Venango County noted.
Venango County Democrat chairperson John Kluck said he is in the process of composing a letter to the county board of elections disagreeing with the decision.
“We completely object to removing the boxes. There were zero problems locally using them, so why remove the boxes at all?”
Backer said of all the mail-in ballots received last election, only about 10% were dropped in the box. She confirmed there were no irregularities in the county during the last elections using the drop boxes.
During Tuesday’s regular commissioners meeting, Commissioners Sam Breene and Delaney voted to stop using the boxes. Commissioner Albert “Chip” Abramovic voted against the motion. The election board is meeting Friday morning(Sept. 16) at 9 a.m. to discuss voter registration challenges Backer said,
Mike Wilcox of Oil Region Rising is trying to get a group together to attend the meeting saying he wants to ask the board why they acted to remove the boxes.
Though the drop boxes won't used, Backer said if someone is planning to vote by mail-in ballot and fears they waited too long to mail and meet the arrival deadline, they can bring their ballot and envelope to their polling place. There the mail-in ballot would be voided and they can vote in person. She also said that on Election Day, November 8, Venango County Courthouse annex room 100 will be open for people to drop off their ballots before 8 p.m.
The last day to register to vote is October 24. Deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is November 1. All completed mail-in ballots must be received at the courthouse by 8 p.m. November 8.
The box sat, securely locked, outside the Venango County Courthouse Annex.
“We’re just trying to get ahead of this,” said commissioner Mike Dulaney, who added that the state is moving towards eliminating use of ballot drop boxes.
“It’s a local decision,” Sabrina Backer Director of Election for Venango County noted.
Venango County Democrat chairperson John Kluck said he is in the process of composing a letter to the county board of elections disagreeing with the decision.
“We completely object to removing the boxes. There were zero problems locally using them, so why remove the boxes at all?”
Backer said of all the mail-in ballots received last election, only about 10% were dropped in the box. She confirmed there were no irregularities in the county during the last elections using the drop boxes.
During Tuesday’s regular commissioners meeting, Commissioners Sam Breene and Delaney voted to stop using the boxes. Commissioner Albert “Chip” Abramovic voted against the motion. The election board is meeting Friday morning(Sept. 16) at 9 a.m. to discuss voter registration challenges Backer said,
Mike Wilcox of Oil Region Rising is trying to get a group together to attend the meeting saying he wants to ask the board why they acted to remove the boxes.
Though the drop boxes won't used, Backer said if someone is planning to vote by mail-in ballot and fears they waited too long to mail and meet the arrival deadline, they can bring their ballot and envelope to their polling place. There the mail-in ballot would be voided and they can vote in person. She also said that on Election Day, November 8, Venango County Courthouse annex room 100 will be open for people to drop off their ballots before 8 p.m.
The last day to register to vote is October 24. Deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is November 1. All completed mail-in ballots must be received at the courthouse by 8 p.m. November 8.
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