Election Protection with Rural Drop Boxes

In This Together NEPA Secures Voting Access

A few weeks before the 2024 election, voters were preparing to cast their ballots in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Then the Luzerne county manager unilaterally decided the Board of Elections-approved drop boxes would not be deployed.

Organizing across the county

In This Together NEPA (ITNEPA) sprang into action. They organized constituents to deliver public comments at County Council and Board of Elections meetings, collected over 400 petition signatures, and held a press conference with legislators describing the importance of drop boxes. Finally, ITNEPA filed a lawsuit in partnership with the ACLU of Pennsylvania. In response to the increased pressure, the county manager reversed her decision, and the drop boxes were deployed.

The importance of electoral access

Drop boxes are critical for rural voters. Rural postal routes face challenges receiving and sending mail regularly, and in Pennsylvania ballots must be received by the voter’s county elections office on election day, not postmarked by election day. Drop boxes provide people a secure way to ensure their mail ballots arrive on time. Rural voters include workers with irregular schedules, people with disabilities, parents with children at home, and caregivers supporting their loved ones. This means going to their polling location on election day may simply not be an option. Drop boxes provide them with a secure alternative. ITNEPA’s efforts increased residents' ability to vote, ultimately impacting turnout for Luzerne County. 

In 2022 Luzerne County was forced to settle a federal lawsuit regarding ballot paper shortages which disenfranchised voters. The 2024 battle over drop boxes was the latest installment in a multi-year campaign by anti-democratic elected officials to undermine faith in Pennsylvania elections. This fight is not over, but ITNEPA will continue to stand for a pro-democracy agenda and ensure all voices are heard in our elections.