The “crown jewel” of democracy lies in our ability to conduct fair and untampered elections. Just like our Westmoreland County commissioners, I believe in free and fair elections and that our votes should count. Our commissioners need to live up to their values and the commitment they made when they ran for and were elected to office.
Commissioner Doug Chew calls to discard mail-in ballots with missing or incorrect dates on the envelopes (“GOP commissioners reject defective mail-in ballots”). These ballots would bear either a USPS postmark or date of collection from an Election Bureau drop box, so there is no question the ballots were received at a specific date and time regardless of whether or not they are dated or incorrectly dated by the voter.
According to the March 27 Omnibus Amendment to Pennsylvania Election Law (P.L. 41, No. 12), a missing or incorrect date on the mail-in ballot envelope is not a specified basis for ballot rejection.
Chew blamed voters for being “irresponsible.” But I believe communication and directions from the commissioners and the Election Bureau were poor regarding mail-in ballots, and inconsequential errors are not surprising. And yet Chew and Kertes want to punish and disenfranchise voters for a simple and non-disqualifying error.
The commissioners have a duty to count every vote that is permissible under Pennsylvania law.
Let the voters decide!
Diana Steck
North Huntingdon