State Sen. Marty Flynn responds to drop box protesters heckling him and other speakers during a Tuesday gathering outside the Luzerne County Courthouse. Flynn is seeking a state Attorney General’s Office investigation of the drop box elimination.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
In opposition over the elimination of four Luzerne County mail ballot drop boxes, State Sen. Marty Flynn and county Manager Romilda Crocamo both sent letters Wednesday asking state Attorney General Michelle A. Henry to investigate.
The request from Flynn, D-Scranton:
I am writing to formally demand an immediate and thorough investigation by your office into the decision made by Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo to eliminate all mail ballot drop boxes for the upcoming November 5 election.
This decision, made without consultation or approval from the Luzerne County Board of Elections, represents a significant overreach of authority and poses a direct threat to the voting rights of our community.
The elimination of these drop boxes — used securely and reliably since 2020 — disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable populations, including senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, those working long shifts, and residents without access to reliable transportation. For many elderly voters, these drop boxes provide a vital, safe method to cast their ballots. Removing this option just weeks before the election is an egregious act of voter suppression that makes it harder for seniors and others to participate in our democracy.
The timing and nature of this decision are highly concerning. The county had already purchased the hard drives for this election cycle, and the boxes were equipped with video surveillance and other security measures, effectively addressing any concerns regarding their safety and integrity. If legitimate issues existed, they should have been addressed through dialogue, not through a sudden, unilateral elimination. Furthermore, with ongoing U.S. Postal Service delays, removing these drop boxes dramatically increases the risk that ballots — especially those from senior citizens — will not arrive in time to be counted, thus disenfranchising voters.
In addition to investigating the legality of this decision, I urge your office to also examine whether any external pressures or influences played a role in Luzerne County Manager Crocamo’s actions. The abruptness of this decision and the lack of transparency in the process raise serious questions about whether political or outside interests may have swayed this action, undermining the proper and fair conduct of the election. Any attempt to influence or interfere with the voting process must be exposed and held accountable.
The unilateral actions of County Manager Crocamo, bypassing the Luzerne County Board of Elections — who had already approved the drop box locations — constitute an abuse of power that cannot go unchecked. I demand that your office investigate all aspects of this decision, including potential outside pressures, and take immediate steps to reverse this harmful action. It is crucial that all preapproved drop box locations be reinstated to ensure the accessibility and integrity of the voting process.
The people of Luzerne County deserve the right to vote in free, fair, and accessible elections. This decision threatens to undermine that right, and we call on your office to act swiftly to protect our residents from voter suppression.
Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter. I trust that you will give this issue the urgency it requires and take all necessary steps to protect the voting rights of Luzerne County’s residents.
Crocamo’s letter:
Prior to Luzerne County Council’s meeting yesterday there was an organized protest held at the courthouse. Three local elected officials attended. Essentially the protest was over my decision to not deploy drop boxes due to concerns over the county’s ability to protect employees, citizens, and property.
There are real costs both operational and financial associated with drop box operation. The elected official in attendance told the press they were going to ask you to investigate my decision. Therefore, I am writing to formally request an investigation into my decision as Luzerne County Manager regarding the non-deployment of drop boxes for the upcoming 2024 General Election.
As you may be aware, there are strong beliefs on both sides of the political spectrum about the efficiency of drop boxes. I recognize that the decision to forgo their use warrants scrutiny, which was already performed in my administration. Nobody working on this from my administration has a strong position of drop box utilization.
I believe it is crucial for the public to understand the reasoning behind this decision, especially considering the ongoing discussions surrounding election accessibility and security.
An investigation by your office would provide transparency and reinforce public confidence in our electoral processes.
I welcome any questions or discussions you may wish to have regarding this matter and look forward to your prompt attention to this request.
Staff writer Bill O’Boyle contributed to this report.
Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.
