Allegheny County: Make voting easier
If the recent Allegheny County Board of Elections hearing is any indication, county officials are falling behind in expanding voter access at the ballot box. They have no plans to incorporate satellite sites or drop boxes into the voting plans for upcoming elections and are not taking up the idea in any capacity.
That is a disservice to the thousands of voters who need more voting options, not fewer.
The board describes its “principal goal” as being “to administer the State and Federal Election Laws and to ensure compliance with those laws.” Its members are County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and two at-large county council members, Samuel DeMarco III and Bethany Hallam. (Mr. Fitzgerald and Ms. Hallam are Democrats; Mr. DeMarco a Republican.)
It has never been more important than it is now for voters to have more access to the ballot. People in Allegheny County already face a number of obstacles to voting, including disinformation campaigns led by conspiracy theorists and a confusing redistricting process.
In addition, our polling places have run out of ballots on the past few election days and ballots have been recalled due to printing errors.
These challenges present an opportunity for the county to make extensive changes to ensure the voting process works for all of us. We need to make voters feel more included in democracy through proven measures and innovative ideas.
This is why it is imperative that we create accessible voting conditions through innovative technology and praxis, as laid out in the Allegheny County ProVoter Agenda, It calls on the election board to adopt commonsense policies that will improve voting access. These include equally distributing 24-hour secure drop boxes throughout our communities and providing widely accessible voting materials in languages that the diverse population of Allegheny County speaks.
Election board officials in the county must sign on to this provoter agenda to show their commitment to the voters they claim to support. More expansive voting options are in the best interests of voters, candidates and election officials.
We all deserve access to the ballot box and complete transparency into the voting process. By reducing barriers of mail delays and long lines on Election Day, we can help build community through civic engagement and partnership.
In 2020, satellite voting sites and an increased number of drop boxes saw thousands of people come out and safely vote. The people of Allegheny County showed in 2020 that they want an election system that works for every voter. So why don’t county officials follow the lead of their constituents? Drop boxes and satellite sites should be standard operating procedures — not offered only during a pandemic or during presidential election years.
Satellite sites offer an opportunity for people to see democracy in action. Big Lie proponents who want to keep our voices silent cannot accuse people of voter fraud when hundreds of people line up to apply for ballots, drop off ballots and register to vote or volunteer. At a time when these conspiracy theorists are trying to sabotage elections to control their outcome, we need more transparency than ever.
The county says it does not have enough funding from the state legislature to reopen satellite sites or expand drop boxes, but there is nothing stopping the county from pursuing the funds for these necessary voting measures themselves. Additionally, they can include them into their election plans for general operating purposes.
Allegheny County’s Board of Elections has left voters with limited options by stripping them of popular voting methods that have increased voter participation turnout in the past. As civic engagement becomes a priority, our government officials must advocate for more voting access. Adopting a pro-voter agenda is the first step in this process. It is a step, however, that the county unfortunately refuses to take.
Despite the urgent need to expand voter protections in the face of attacks on our democracy and threats to election officials, Allegheny County has not shown itself to be a leader in making voting more accessible. By committing to improving our elections, county officials can create a better future for our voters.