High Turnover and Human Error in Luzerne County Highlight a Larger Problem
In the wake of the 2020 US presidential election, Luzerne County in Pennsylvania became the center of controversy when nine mail-in ballots were found in the trash. Former President Donald Trump seized on the incident, claiming it was evidence of election rigging. However, it was later revealed that the incident was caused by human error, not a nefarious plot. This incident, along with subsequent errors in the county’s election office, shed light on a larger crisis facing American elections – the exodus of experienced election officials. As threats and harassment against these officials increase, many are leaving the profession, leading to a loss of institutional knowledge and a cycle of human error and distrust in the electoral process.
High Turnover and Human Error in Luzerne County
Luzerne County, a politically competitive county in a battleground state, has experienced a high level of turnover in its election office. Between 2016 and 2019, the median experience for staffers in the office was between 17 and 22 years. However, by 2022, the median level of experience had dropped to just 1.5 years. This lack of experienced personnel has led to unintentional human errors, such as the discarding of military ballots and the mislabeling of ballots as “official Democratic ballots.” These errors have fueled distrust in the electoral process and further exacerbated the problem of high turnover.
The Larger Crisis Facing American Elections
The exodus of experienced election officials is not unique to Luzerne County; it is a crisis facing American democracy as a whole. Threats and harassment against these officials have increased, fueled by the myth spread by former President Trump and his allies that US election results cannot be trusted. According to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice, about 20% of local election officials are projected to be working their first presidential election in 2024. In Pennsylvania alone, nearly 70 election directors or assistant directors in 40 counties have left since 2020. This loss of institutional knowledge and expertise poses a significant challenge to the integrity of the electoral process.
Rebuilding Trust in Luzerne County
As Luzerne County prepares for another election year, officials are acutely aware of the need to rebuild trust in the electoral process. They recognize that any error can further erode public confidence. The county is taking steps to improve its internal election processes, including the implementation of clear protocols and procedures. The county manager emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing mistakes and preventing their recurrence. Extensive outreach efforts are also being made to recruit and train poll workers to ensure a smooth and trustworthy election process.
Conclusion:
The exodus of experienced election officials in Luzerne County and across the United States highlights a crisis in American democracy. The loss of institutional knowledge and expertise, coupled with the increasing threats and harassment faced by election officials, poses a significant challenge to the integrity of the electoral process. Rebuilding trust will require transparency, accountability, and a commitment to improving internal election processes. As Luzerne County strives to regain the trust of its residents, it serves as a microcosm of the larger challenges facing American democracy and the urgent need for action to protect the integrity of elections.
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