Keystone Today

Voters in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, are set to avoid the ballot shortages and voter disenfranchisement that marred the 2022 midterm elections, thanks to a recent legal settlement. The agreement mandates improved ballot stocking and poll worker training, ensuring smoother operations in future elections and restoring confidence in the county's electoral process.

According to Restoration News, during the 2022 election, 40 precincts in Luzerne County ran out of paper ballots, disproportionately affecting Republican voters, with many unable to cast their ballots due to their preference for using paper ballots rather than electronic voting machines. While some polling locations stayed open for an additional two hours following a court order, many voters did not return to cast their vote.

The lawsuit French v. Luzerne Co., filed by two voters, required Luzerne County to stock enough ballot paper, provide legal guidance, and improve election worker training after high staff turnover contributed to paper shortages in the 2022 midterms. The Center for Election Confidence (CEC) led the case, with Senior Counsel Jonathan Hauenschild emphasizing its importance for protecting future elections.

"This settlement is an important protection to ensure that the disenfranchisement suffered by Mr. French and Ms. Reese does not happen again in Luzerne County while also trying to help prevent future election problems,” Hauenschild told Restoration News. “CEC is more than thrilled we could assist Mr. French and Ms. Reese with their efforts to hold the County accountable and help restore confidence in Luzerne's elections.”

Since 2022, Luzerne County has switched to paper ballots, and the settlement reinforces that decision, aiming to prevent future mismanagement. Critics argue that while Democrats often raise voter suppression concerns, they’ve remained silent on this case, where Republican voters were mostly impacted. Some claim this is part of a broader strategy to advance policies such as non-citizen voting, ranked-choice voting, and the retention of ineligible voters on rolls, which they argue undermines election security.