Bucks County will be adding another ballot drop box for the upcoming primary election.
During the Bucks County Board of Elections meeting Tuesday afternoon, the board, which is made up of the Bucks County Commissioners and is chaired by Bob Harvie, voted 2-1 to add a drop box at the Yardley-Makefield Free Library at 1080 Edgewood Road in Lower Makefield Township.
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Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, who voted against the addition, said he has “concern” over adding another box and taxing resources. He noted that primary election turnout is historically much less than in a presidential election year. He said the current three box system worked well last year.
“Our election here in Bucks County was safe and secure,” he said, adding the non-partisan election officials and sheriff’s deputies who stood watch did great work.
“I want to make voting easy and make it more accessible,” DiGirolamo said, calling for state lawmakers to work on an election reform bill that would allow for pre-canvasing and give some certainty on a lot of issues.
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For the upcoming May 18 primary election, the county will offer drop-off boxes for completed mail-in ballots at the Lower Bucks County Government Services Center in Bristol Township, the Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown Borough, and at the county center just outside of Quakertown.
The three existing drop boxes are monitored by security cameras, a sheriff’s deputy, and often have election staff ready to assist. The planned fourth box in Lower Makefield would be monitored by security camera, an election official, and a deputy might be stationed, officials said.
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Harvie said county election officials inspected the site at the Yardley-Makefield Free Library, which is owned by the county but run by the Bucks County Free Library system.
There were numerous public comments asking for more drop boxes within the county.
“Please take steps to remedy this issue and make drop boxes more convenient and more plentiful in Bucks County. I would expect that with Democratic leadership you will make this huge voter access issue a priority for the general election, since it is likely too late to do so for May,” resident Kierstyn Zolfo said.
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County elections officials will look at expanding drop box access for the November general election, Harvie said.
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