All Voting is Local State Director Scott Seeborg issued the following statement in response to Pennsylvania’s primary election, where voters in Black and Brown communities needlessly faced long lines and confusion at the polls because of last minute polling place closures, voting machines that didn’t work, a lack of ballot drop boxes, and a militarized police presence at or near some locations in Allegheny and Philadelphia counties:
“The Pennsylvania primary election was a dress rehearsal for the November general election and officials fell short fulfilling their obligations to democracy. Pennsylvania voters faced unnecessary hurdles to the ballot at every turn in this primary election. And while it is laudable that Pennsylvania officials processed almost 2 million mail-in ballot applications, it is the responsibility of elected officials to ensure that every eligible voter can safely cast a ballot that counts.
“State and county election officials had an additional two months to prepare for this election during a pandemic, and yet voters still ran into preventable obstacles to the ballot box. Voters should not have to choose between their health and their right to vote. They should also be able to vote free from any threat or intimidation. The police presence at the polls hearken to an ugly chapter in our history. Election officials must act now to prevent these problems in November so that every voice is heard.”