Recently, I have spoken with registered Republicans. At Derry Railroad Days, a volunteer at the GOP booth asked if “I had a plan to vote.” Last week at the Westmoreland County Election Bureau’s logic and accuracy testing, two GOP committee people talked about increasing mail ballot usage.

It’s showing up in early data. For Westmoreland County, the mix of mail-in ballot applications has shifted. In 2022, Democrats accounted for 66% of usage. This year, it’s 59%, with Republicans up from 26% to 33%. Interestingly, 66% of the applications are from senior citizens; that’s true for both Democrats and Republicans.

That means we share common interests. We also have common concerns — about the U.S. Post Office. I heard from these Republican leaders that they are worried about timely delivery of ballots. They indicated they were recommending folks take their mail-in ballots to the courthouse.

Perhaps now that GOP usage is up, with so many senior citizens impacted, the county commissioners could vote to restore one drop box in the lower Pennsylvania Avenue entrance of the courthouse with reserved parking spaces. They could decide this at a meeting today. Commissioners, please help make voting safe, secure and convenient for all of our voters. Restore the drop box at the courthouse.

Bibiana Boerio

Unity

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