LEBANON, Pa. — Update, Feb. 15: In Lebanon County, commissioners motioned to hear a new play to replace their only ballot drop box. Residents of Lebanon County filled the board of elections meeting to voice concerns about removing the original drop box.
County officials unveiled a replacement, a drive-through ballot drop-off location in the parking lot of the municipal building.
It will be staffed with at lease one election official and equipped with cameras.
Lebanon County Director of Elections Sean Drasher says this is a compromise that offers more accessibility and election integrity.
"I think this is fantastic. It's a great expansion of the office. Its better for handicap access. It's better in every way," said Drasher. "It's more secure than it was. I'm very happy with it. It's going to be more expensive but that is the price you pay for security."
The cost or details of the new drop-off location and structure has not been finalized.
The Lebanon County Commissioners will vote on the new ballot drop-off proposal on March 7.
Previously: The Lebanon County commissioners will reconsider the removal of their sole ballot drop box at their board of elections meeting on Thursday.
The ballot drop box in Lebanon County, which stood in front of the Lebanon County Courthouse was removed in late January. But, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania (ACLU PA) said that removal disenfranchises many voters across the county.
Members sent a letter to the Lebanon County commissioners, saying the removal of the ballot drop box disenfranchises voters with disabilities.
They said the drop box made it easier for disabled voters to return ballots in person, without having to go inside the courthouse.
They also said vote to remove the drop box was in violation of the state’s Sunshine Act which gives community advance notice of a meeting and allowing the public to attend.
The ballot drop box was removed by county commissioners by a 2-to-1 vote in January.
Those who voted for the removal believed the ballot drop box was a weak spot in the county’s election process.
"The issue of vulnerability of that box doesn't go away even with the cameras and with the signage," said Rob Phillips, Republican chairman for the Lebanon County Commissioners. "The volume is going to be greater in this presidential cycle. This was the time to do it."
"It is somewhat secure, the drop box the way we had it," Michael Kuhn, Lebanon County Commissioner. "In my opinion, it is not as secure as it could be."
Commissioner Kuhn told FOX43 he's open to other solutions, suggesting the county could offer a ballot drop box or drop off location as long as there's an attendant present.
The Lebanon County commissioners will hold a reconsideration for the ballot drop box today in the Municipal Building in Lebanon.