Instead of using this mail ballot drop box at Luzerne County’s Penn Place building in downtown Wilkes-Barre, as shown in a past election, voters interested in personally returning their Nov. 5 ballots must pass through a metal detector and visit the election bureau on the second floor.

Instead of using this mail ballot drop box at Luzerne County’s Penn Place building in downtown Wilkes-Barre, as shown in a past election, voters interested in personally returning their Nov. 5 ballots must pass through a metal detector and visit the election bureau on the second floor.

Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo issued a statement Monday disclosing some of the enhanced security measures that will be introduced for the Nov. 5 general election.

The initiatives:

• Real-time monitoring of video surveillance cameras in areas where ballots are stored and locked.

• Panic button software and radios provided to poll workers from county emergency services to “ensure swift communication in case of emergencies.”

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• Color-coded vests and/or lanyards supplied to approved Election Day observers at the county’s Penn Place Building in downtown Wilkes-Barre to promote transparency and safety.

Crocamo said she wanted to conduct security assessments to enhance the protection of county facilities. Under the guidance of county Election Director Emily Cook, the county engaged the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a thorough “Security Assessment At First Entry,” or SAFE, review in August.

“This assessment, along with input from our assigned Protective Security Advisers from Homeland Security, has highlighted our strengths and the areas needing improvement within our facilities,” Crocamo said. “Consequently, we are implementing several security enhancements to better safeguard our election process.”

While she listed the three examples, Crocamo said she cannot disclose every enhancement for security reasons.

“At the direction of the many security professionals working with our county, I was asked not to disclose the security measure being introduced for the upcoming election. Some of the initiatives will be obvious to observant citizens and others will not be obvious at all,” Crocamo said.

Various county departments and law enforcement agencies are meeting to enhance communications, solidify contingency plans and coordinate protections on Election Day and the weeks preceding it, she said.

“As we navigate the complexities of the election process, I recognize the heightened tensions surrounding our electoral system. We are committed to dedicating extensive resources, time, and strategic planning to ensure that our election is conducted safely and securely,” she wrote.

“Luzerne County is prepared, and I am confident that these measures will help us uphold the integrity and safety of our electoral process.”

Drop boxes

Crocamo’s statement also addressed her recent decision to eliminate four mail ballot drop boxes for the Nov. 5 general election.

Mail ballot voters also can continue returning their ballots to the county’s Penn Place Building in downtown Wilkes-Barre, but they will have to go through a metal detector and take them to the election bureau on the second floor instead of depositing them in a drop box in the building’s vestibule.

The portion of her statement relating to the drop box decision:

There are times, as the Luzerne County Manager, that I must make difficult decisions. The decisions I would make as Romilda Crocamo, the individual, do not necessarily align with the decisions I make as Romilda Crocamo, the Luzerne County manager. It is crucial for the community to understand that many decisions I have to make are difficult but are always made with the best interests of our county in mind and never with personal bias.

The decision to not deploy drop boxes is one.

Harper Lee wrote in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” I fathom that will be the case as it relates to this issue, but I will try to explain.

This decision is not a condemnation of the use of drop boxes; rather, it stems from my assessment of our ability to ensure their safety and security.

With our staffing and resource challenges, I cannot secure the use of drop boxes. Other counties may have different resources available and choose to use drop boxes. Luzerne County is not in that position. My primary concern is the safety of individuals working with, in, and around these drop boxes.

As Romilda Crocamo, the individual, I bring my personal values and perspectives to the table. However, the decisions I make in my role as Luzerne County manager are guided by the responsibilities I hold to our community and the overall welfare of the county. This distinction is essential for understanding the nuances of my leadership approach.

In my capacity as county manager, I must prioritize the collective needs of our residents, the security of our electoral processes, and the integrity of our operations. This sometimes requires making choices that may not resonate with my personal beliefs but are necessary for the greater good.

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.