Montgomery County moves forward with voter outreach vehicle

Montgomery County officials once again differed on the need for a vehicle geared towards increasing voter outreach after the purchase was authorized in a 2-1 vote earlier this month.

A $145,600 agreement with Whitmoyer Auto Group of Mount Joy, Lancaster County, procured an “outreach van with upfitting,” according to the contract through the Pennsylvania Department of State. The venture would be covered through capital improvement program funding.

“I don’t understand why we’re moving forward with this. It’s a large expenditure item for something quite honestly I feel we don’t need,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello.

Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman countered, asserting that the initiative increases accessibility in the weeks leading up to the 2024 general election.

“The thought of being able to go to nursing homes, or the thought of being able to go to college campuses, and a wide range of community events, I think is the right thing for us to do,” she said.

The conversation resumed during the Aug. 15 board meeting after the trio of elected officials debated the concept when it was suggested for a request for proposal earlier this summer.

The initiative was first described as a way to “furnish mobile outreach vehicles to increase access to voter services during upcoming elections,” the proposal stated.

DiBello previously expressed his opposition to the concept he likened to a “mobile ice cream truck.” DiBello questioned the legitimacy of implementing a policy and noted that services remain available online.

Winder had responded in kind, stressing that it’s “not an ice cream truck,” but instead offers a new means of accessibility.

“There [are] so many constituents that just can’t get here, that can’t get online or don’t have that capacity and so I think when we’re thinking about our most vulnerable, this is another way which we can support our most vulnerable,” Winder said in July.

One month later, DiBello doubled down, citing a high expenditure for a “voter services ballot harvesting van.” He insisted more conversations surrounding policies and procedures need to be had before moving forward.

“We’re going out, we’re buying a van, still don’t really understand what the purpose of it is. I think that we’re putting the van before the horse in this instance,” DiBello said.

The county commissioners were split along party lines. DiBello, a Republican, shared his views on mail-in voting and questioned whether it was necessary to authorize a $29,234 contract related to drop boxes.

Chief Operating Officer Lee Soltysiak emphasized the five-figure agreement with American Security Cabinets, Sauk Rapids, Minn. would only “authorize the purchase of up to 10 drop boxes,” noting that it “will give the board the flexibility to install additional drop boxes.”

The contract also stipulates capabilities for “custom graphics.” Funding would come from the county’s general-operational budget.

“This is not a vote to install the drop boxes. The board of elections will need to approve the locations for any additional placements,” Soltysiak said.

The county’s election currently historically has a dozen situated throughout the county in the weeks leading up to the election for voters to submit their mail-in ballots.

Democrats Winder and Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Neil Makhija, who also serves as chairman of the county election board, underscored how these resources are critical.

“So the advantage of a drop box is you’re giving it directly to the county, they’re picked up by our sheriffs, they’re monitored 24/7 with cameras,” Makhija said. “They’re really the most secure way –other than walking into voter services and dropping of your ballot or voting on Election Day– because you cut out the middleman of the USPS, which is helpful.

While Makhija identified some delays associated with the U.S. Postal Service, he noted that county election officials do partner with the governmental agency as they work to collect ballots leading up to and on Election Day. However he urged voters to still utilize other options.

“And USPS, we work with them. They do a great job. They do sweeps the day of the election to make sure they’re picking up every ballot, but if you want to make sure we have your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is what the statute requires, the drop box is a great way to do that.”

DiBello said he’s heard “other counties doing away with drop boxes,” and reiterated that “it’s an expense that we don’t need.”

Makhija appeared to see things differently.

“I’m glad that voter services is considering ways to make sure that that’s even more accessible in the county, and there are certainly counties in Pennsylvania going in one direction adding more, and then there are others that don’t even want mail-in voting,” Makhija said. “In Montco, we’ve had a clear policy of making voting as accessible as possible, and all of this fits that.”

Winder too echoed Makhija’s calls to increase opportunities for convenience for voters.

“I’ll just say, for me, supporting this is about accessibility, and we want to make sure … that our voter services team has the tools that they need in order to get out in front of everything that we need to do as a county to deliver on our promise related to the elections, and so I’m really excited to see the mobile effort,” Winder said.

The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sept. 5 on the eighth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St., Norristown. Those interested in attending the meeting can also do so virtually. Visit montgomerycountypa.gov for more information.

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