Montco Adds Security, Tip-Line To Protect 'Sanctity Of Election'

NORRISTOWN, PA — Mail-in voting has officially begun for the 2020 election in Pennsylvania, and officials in Montgomery County are working to ensure there is no interference.

As the county's 11 drop-off ballot boxes opened up on Saturday, Oct. 3, the district attorney's office announced several security measures "to secure the sanctity of the election."

A special tip line has been created for residents to report any suspicious activity they see at the boxes. All boxes will be under surveillance, the DA's office said.

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“Today I want to reassure Montgomery County residents that we will use all means to
make certain we have a safe, secure and valid election here in Montgomery County, for both
in-person voting on Election Day and for voting by dropping off completed paper ballots
between now and Nov. 3." DA Kevin Steele said in a statement.

Anyone who sees someone trying to break into the election boxes, dropping off multiple ballots, and doing anything suspicious or criminal should call the tip line at 610-292-2020.

The DA's office will also have a team of prosecutors and detectives assembled specifically to handle Election Day complaints.

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“This election season has been extremely contentious and discordant, with all sorts of rhetoric," Steele added. "There have been allegations that there will be election irregularities, and while we don’t expect any, we are ready to assist in protecting the integrity of our electoral system— as we do for every election."

Due to coronavirus concerns, the county is expecting significantly more mail-in ballots for the November general election than they saw during the primary season. Back in June, a record 126,000 Montgomery County residents voted by mail. Montgomery County Commissioner Ken Lawrence, the Chair of the Election Board, said it could be as much as twice as that, and "certainly over 200,000," for the general election.

Local Republicans have been vocal in their opposition to mail-in balloting, and leaders have noted several issues that occurred following the June primary. The Montgomery County Republican Committee said that a number of ballots were mailed with incorrect instructions, and that some voters received incorrect ballots. There was an added flurry of concern over the summer when cuts were threatened to the U.S. Postal Service.

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State Democratic leaders at continue to say that voting by mail is safe and that the election will be protected. "Pennsylvanians have every reason to feel confident," Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.