Westmoreland County’s Republican commissioners on Thursday rejected what likely was the final push before the Nov. 5 election to have at least one drop box at the courthouse for mail-in ballots.
Commissioners Doug Chew and Sean Kertes declined to consider a proposal to allow voters to drop off ballots without having to walk through courthouse security. Thursday’s meeting likely was the last for the county voting board prior to Election Day.
The proposed mail-in ballot drop-off plan first was offered during a public meeting two weeks ago by Chew following pleas from a handful of voters to install a box at the Pennsylvania Avenue rear entrance of the courthouse complex. Chew proposed a compromise that would place an election bureau staffer at the rear courthouse entrance to accept mail-in ballots leading up to Election Day.
Kopas said that proposal, which he backed, was vetted by Chew’s staff and was readied for consideration before it was pulled from the agenda by the Republican commissioners before Thursday’s meeting.
“Doug Chew changes his mind like the rest of us change our socks. I can’t explain it, and it’s a disservice to every voter on both sides,” Kopas said.
Chew declined to comment.
More than 54,000 mail-in ballots had been requested by Westmoreland County voters as of Thursday morning, and nearly 33,000 ballots have been returned. Voters have until 5 p.m. Oct. 29 to apply for mail-in ballots.
Voters can return ballots through the mail or hand them to staff in the election bureau’s first-floor courthouse office. Mail-in ballots must be returned to the courthouse by 8 p.m. Nov. 5 to be counted.
Westmoreland County used drop boxes during the 2020 presidential election and again in 2021 at the courthouse and several regional locations including the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and community college sites in Murrysville, New Kensington and near Youngwood. One drop box was stationed at the courthouse in 2023, but none were installed for this year’s primary.
Chew and Kertes argued the regional drop boxes were underutilized, and the courthouse drop box is unnecessary.
“I believe the only way to make sure your vote is counted is to come into the courthouse. I’m not opposed to drop boxes in the future if it is again brought up, but right now the best course of action is to vote in person or bring ballots in to the courthouse in person,” Kertes said.
The election bureau office will be open weekdays until 7 p.m. through Nov. 4 and until 8 p.m. on Election Day. It also will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the next two weekends.
Drop boxes are used in dozens of counties throughout Pennsylvania, mostly in the eastern sections of the state. Allegheny County does not use drop boxes but will station election staffers at regional locations throughout the county over the next two weekends to accept mail-in ballots.
Dave Jones of Unity called on commissioners to reverse course and approve a courthouse drop box in Westmoreland County.
“We are trying to make sure everyone has a vote. There will be perhaps another 10,000 voters who who have yet to receive their ballots, and now there is not enough time to get them in. What will you tell voters?” Jones said.
Annie Briscoe of Washington Township said it can be a hassle for voters to drive into Greensburg, park, walk through security and make their way to the election bureau to turn in a ballot.
“Mail in rural areas are not always picked up. It (not having drop boxes) is affecting rural people, and it is a disservice,” Briscoe said.
Commissioners said voters will have additional parking in Greensburg. The county reached a deal with the city to reserve six additional free parking spots along Pennsylvania Avenue, behind the courthouse, designated for use by voters who drop off mail-in ballots. Those will be added to the two parking spots that were approved for use earlier this month.
Meanwhile, county officials said local voters will not benefit from a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling issued late Wednesday that allows voters to cast provisional ballots at the polls on Election Day should their mail-in ballots be rejected for technical issues such as a lack of date, signature or missing secrecy envelopes.
Featured Local Businesses
According to a Spotlight Pa. report published this week, Westmoreland County is among 29 Pennsylvania counties that does not allow ballot curing. That process allows county election workers to notify voters of potential errors that could prevent mail-in ballots from being counted and enables them to correct their ballot before the election.
Kertes said the county will wait for a pending Supreme Court ruling that could clarify if ballot curing is required before enacting any new policies with regard to notification of voters.
“I firmly believe we don’t want to repeat the nightmare we lived with (in 2020) with the constant changing of the process. We want to wait until there is a legal determination, and we will follow it,” Kertes said.
Kopas said he favors ballot curing and voter notification of potential errors. Voters now have no way to know if their mail-in ballot is rejected prior to counting.
“We should offer that courtesy because it is in the best interest of counting every vote, especially when there is a remedy,” Kopas said.