VOTING BLOCK
CONCORD WON’T ALLOW BALLOT BOX IN TOWNSHIP BUILDING
CONCORD » When voters look for ballot boxes to submit their mail-in ballots for the upcoming General Election, the Concord Township building won’t be one place where that’s possible.
In the summer, Delaware County Council approved spending $152,000 funds from the Center for Tech and Civic Life to purchase 50 drop boxes to be placed in each of the 49 municipalities and one at the county Government Center in Media. In the June primary, applications for mailin ballots were backed up so county officials permitted voters who had received their ballot but were concerned there wasn’t enough time for the postal service to deliver it to drop off their ballots at polling places so that these votes would be counted.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused some to have concern about voting at a setting with potentially large amounts of people. In addition, Act 77, passed in Pennsylvania last year, allowed for no-excuse mail-in voting.
In Concord, there is some disconnect between what county and township officials want. Concord is ruled by an all-Republican board of supervisors, and Delaware County Council is comprised of all Democrats.
Township Manager Amanda Serock issued a statement explaining that on Aug. 25, the Delaware County Board of Elections presented Concord with a request and license agreement for the placement of a ballot box on township property for mail-in and absentee ballots. The statement said the agreement listed a period of five years for such placement, as well as other conditions that weren’t specified.
It added that the Interim Director of Elections Marianne Jackson asked that the agreement be returned by Sept. 9. Concord Township Council held its regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 1 and the matter was not addressed.
“The Delaware County Board of Elections was informed on Sept. 2 that the township would not participate in this program and installation of a ballot box as no action had been taken on the license agreement at the public meeting,” the statement read. “No executive session was held to discuss this matter.”
Township Councilman John Gillespie said, “The township manager wrote a letter. I know nothing about it. I was not asked my opinion.”
He added he didn’t have a copy of the letter.
When asked who authorized the manager to write the letter, Gillespie added, “I have no idea.”
He declined to comment on his thoughts about a ballot drop box not being in the township building for the General Election; however, the statement issued by Serock said nothing foul was at play.
“Concord Township is proud of its history of assisting the county Election Board in the election process,” the Concord Township statement continued. “Over the years, the township has taken on the task of performing and paying for the required studies to allow for an increase in the number of voting precincts from four to 11 as well as assisting in finding locations for those precincts, along with setup and other services. Any implication that township council is subverting the election process is untrue and unfounded.”
The statement explained that registered voters will be able to vote at the polls on Election Day.
In addition, it continued, it said the Delaware County Board of Elections is anticipated to send out requested ballots in early October through the U.S. Postal Service to those who have applied for one. It directed those with more questions on that process to visit the county website at http:// www.delcopa.gov/electionsbureau/absenteevoting.html.
“The Delaware County Board of Elections was informed on Sept. 2 that the township would not participate in this program and installation of a ballot box as no action had been taken on the license agreement at the public meeting. No executive session was held to discuss this matter.”
— Statement issued by Concord Township Manager Amanda Serock
The township statement concluded, “We urge our citizens to exercise their right to vote, either in person, at the polls on Election Day or by mail-in ballot via the U.S. Postal Service.”
Joe Campisano, chair of the Concord-Bethel Democratic Committee, expressed concern for elderly voters and spoke to the difficulties they may have in getting to Media and finding parking there.
“We have a lot of older residents in Concord Township,” he said. “Many people just don’t want to travel.”
A drop box in the township building would allow for the ballot to be picked up that day and taken to Media, Campisano said, adding, “It would be in the Bureau of Elections way before the time it was for them to count.”
He took issue that the issue was not done behind closed doors.
“It was done in an executive session” Campisano said, “it didn’t need to be. There was no input, there was no explanation made to the public why they made that decision.”
He said the absence of a ballot drop box at the township building is an example of voter suppression.
“It absolutely would be,” Campisano said. “Was it intended to be that? I don’t know.”
Such a move would require voters in Concord who received their ballot late to take it to Media or to another municipal building.
“It just doesn’t make any sense,” Campisano said.