After listening to citizen concerns about the speed of voter registration processing, Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith has decided to conduct a thorough review of the matter on Monday.
Monday also is the day the election bureau is set to release a status report on outstanding registrations as part of a weekly progress report of the many election tasks that must be completed for the Nov. 5 general election.
County Manager Romilda Crocamo announced Griffith’s review Thursday, a day after some citizens appeared at a county election board meeting seeking clarification on how many new registrations are pending processing based on rumors of major backlogs the administration has disputed.
Crocamo said Griffith spoke with her about the citizen concerns, and the administration is pleased he wants to conduct a review, saying the initiative is part of the county’s “ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in our electoral process.”
“We welcome this review wholeheartedly, as it is essential for voters to have confidence in our electoral system,” Crocamo’s announcement said. “The integrity of our elections is paramount, and it is our responsibility to ensure that every citizen feels secure in the knowledge that their voice is heard and counted.”
As an independent elected official, Griffith “directly answers to the people of Luzerne County,” she said.
“We believe that such oversight not only strengthens our democracy but also fosters trust between the citizens and their government,” Crocamo said.
Griffith said he wants to assess how many registration requests are outstanding and the process the bureau is using to sort out those with incomplete data or from voters already registered. He also wants to determine how many are awaiting outside verification of voter social security and driver’s license numbers.
Griffith said he will inform the public whether he believes the bureau is on track or in need of additional assistance.
Timely completion of voter registrations is needed, particularly for new voters also requesting mail ballots that the county wants to start sending out in early October, the controller said.