Luzerne County Election Worker Protection Ordinance  Our democracy depends on free, fair, and well run elections. Our election officials work year-round to ensure that our democratic process runs smoothly, sO that every eligible voter can make their voice heard on Election Day. Election workers are your neighbors and community members; they deserve to feel safe as they carry out the duties of their job - just like anyone else. But state law currently defines election officials narrowly, recognizing only those individuals who are physically present at the polls on election day. This narrow definition fails to protect the myriad other workers who play crucial roles throughout the electoral process. The proposed ordinance seeks to fix this by broadening the definition to include everyone involved in elections, providing them the legal recognition and protection they deserve. Passing this ordinance would Protecting our election workers is not just about ensuring their individual safety either; it's about safeguarding our democratic processes and ensuring that every vote is counted in a secure and stable environment. This ordinance represents a commitment to those principles. We urge all community members to reach out to the Luzerne County Council to support this legislation. Together, we can ensure that election workers receive the protections they deserve and that Luzerne County sets a standard for election safety that other counties might follow.  be a key first step in guaranteeing the safety of our workers.  We, the undersigned, are community members who write to express our strong support for the proposed Election Worker Protection ordinance, which is currently under consideration by the The safety and security of election workers are paramount to maintaining the trust and efficacy of our electoral processes. Unfortunately, the current legal framework does not sufficiently protect these vital workers from the increasing threats ofi intimidation, harassment, and violence they face. This ordinance is a necessary step to amend these shortcomings and provide the  Luzerne County Council.  robust protections needed. Key Points of Support:  Expansion of Legal Protections: The ordinance rightly broadens the definition of election officials to include not only those present at polling stations but all individuals involved in the electoral process, acknowledging their crucial roles and the risks they Addressing Modern Threats: By incorporating measures against doxxing, the ordinance modernizes our approach to election worker safety, recognizing the new avenues through which individuals may be targeted in today's digital world. Strengthening Community Trust: Ensuring the safety of election workers directly correlates with the community's confidence in election results, fostering a more trusting  endure.  and engaged electorate.  1of6    We believe that the implementation of this ordinance will serve as a critical foundation for safer and more secure elections. Itr not only protects those on the front lines of our democracy, but also ensures that Luzerne County continues to serve as a model for election security and We urge the Luzerne County Council and the County Manager to pass and implement this ordinance promptly. Our collective experience and ongoing commitment to democratic processes drive our call to action. Please stand with us in protecting the individuals who Thank you for considering this vital piece of legislation. We look forward to seeing its positive impact on our community and the continued improvement of our electoral processes.  worker protection.  safeguard our electoral system.  Signed,  Mary Ann Addington, Plymouth Township Kathy Alaimo, Dallas Township Maureen Alaimo, Pittston Township Edward Ameika, Duryea Borough Sandra Asikainen, Forty Fort Borough Laurie M Ayre, Kingston Borough Colleen Bates, Forty Fort Borough Amanda Brooks, Wilkes-Barre City Diana Berry, Dallas Township Phil Bosha, Wyoming Borough Laura Brace, Wilkes-Barre City Arthur Breese, Wilkes-Barre City Hugh Brislin, Plains Township Linda Brodhead, Laflin Borough Hannah Butterwick, Dallas Township Beth Calpin, Swoyersville Borough Sherri Cannon, Plymouth Borough Nancy Cebula, Bear Creek Township  2of6    Julia Chaffee, Bear Creek Village Dana Clark, Kingston Borough Travis Culver, Salem Township Denise Dalley, Plymouth Borough Carol Dancheck, Forty Fort Borough Amanda Danishanko, Wyoming Borough Anita Davis, Plains Township Helen Davis, Wright Township Emily Fasciana, Wright Township Lynne Fay, Duryea Borough Sandra Federici, Conyngham Township Thomas Federici, Conyngham Township Curtis Foster, Lehman Township Suzanne Francisco, Wilkes-Barre City Erin Gallagher, Hazleton City Ronald Gavlick, Hazleton City Sharon Gebhardt, Dallas Borough Allison Gibbons, Wilkes-Barre City Damian Gilbert, Wilkes-Barre City Susan Gilbert, Wilkes-Barre City Barbara Gilbert Flora, Wilkes-Barre City Mary B. Gilligan, Dallas Township Molly Gilligan, Dallas Township Claudia Glennan, Salem Township Andrea Glod, Wilkes-Barre City Kathleen Graham, Wright Township  3of6    Kathleen Greenage, Newport Township Gary Gregory, Conyngham Borough Lois Grimm, Wilkes-Barre City Martha Gurdin, Dallas Twp Margaret Hanlon, Wyoming Borough Alisha Hofman-Mirlovich, Fairview Township Justin Mirilovich, Fairview Township Stephanie Hummer, West Pittston Borough Charles Hunter, Dupont Borough Audrey Ide, Dallas Township Lindsey Jamieson, Bear Creek Township Rosemary Javkdon, Kingston Township Janet Joyce, Avoca Borough Karen Kaufer, Kingston Borough Jeanne Kimber, Harveys Lake Borough Abigail Kolessar, Exeter Borough Diane Lamson, White Haven Borough Barbara LaNunziata, Pittston Township Patricia Last, Wilkes-Barre City Elizabeth Lavelle, Hanover Township William Lipski, Nanticoke City Michael Lokuta, Dupont Borough Marie Juliane Luchi, Butler Township Lynn Lynott, Pittston Township Debra Manarski, Plains Twp Ann Manganiello, Exeter Borough  4of6    Teresa McAndrew, Dupont Borough Susan E. McDonald, Kingston Borough Keren Mensinger, Butler Township Rebecca Merchant, Bear Creek Township Brett Miles, Hanover Township Catherine Miller, Hazleton City Mary Ellen Murphy, Wilkes-Barre City Daniel Nearhouse, Nanticoke City Bridget Norkaitis, Swoyersville Borough Jay Notartomaso, West Wyoming Borough Carolee Novak, Newport Township David Oehmke, Plains Township Debra Phillips, Exeter Borough Carin Pientka, Wilkes-Barre City Roxanne Poplarchick, Duryea Borough Michael A. Powell, Nanticoke City Tara Priest-Rhodes, Swoyersville Borough Rebecka Puza, Kingston Borough Victoria Rainis, Salem Township Lindsey Riddell, Harveys Lake Borough Darcy Ross, Wyoming Borough Joseph Rostock, Larksville Borough Dennis Rothenbecker, Jr., Bear Creek Township Michelle Rothenbecker, Bear Creek Township Karal Rowley, Wilkes-Barre City Mary Ruane, Wilkes-Barre City  5of6    Sandra Salko, Jackson Township Jessica Saxton-Preiman, Forty Fort Borough Ellen Scatena, Duryea Borough Krista Schneider, Conyngham Borough Emily Smallwood, Dallas Borough Carol Serafin, West Wyoming Borough Joseph Shafer, Dorrance Township Carole Shearer, Butler Township Maureen Simonson, Pittston Township Patrick Smith, Hanover Township Shanna Smith, Dallas Township Judy Sprouse, Plains Township Kay Strickland, Kingston Township Lisa Thomas, Wilkes-Barre City Samantha Trobe, Pittston City Christine Varner, Salem Township Judith Vescovi, Plains Township Melissa Watkins, Laflin Borough Rich Weaver, Salem Township Peyton Wilson, Fairview Township Doris Wnuk, Exeter Township Charles Wolfe, Conyngham Borough Margaret Wolfgang, Hazle Township Alan' Wufsus, Sugarloaf Elnora Zalewski, Plymouth Township Kate Zielinski, Avoca Borough  6of6