PHILADELPHIA CBS – Since the 2020 presidential election, over a third of U.S. election officials are new, according to data from the Bipartisan Policy Center.
A CBS News Investigation revealed that many Pennsylvania election officials have left, with over 700 years of experience gone since 2020.
Two Pennsylvania counties, Northampton and Montgomery, are expected to be in the spotlight as Election Day approaches.
It was intense. The world was watching us, said Lamont McClure, Northampton County Executive.
Northampton and Montgomery counties, about 60 miles apart in the Philadelphia suburbs, are now key counties to watch.
We’ll be one of the most closely observed counties in the nation, said Neil Makhija, a Montgomery County commissioner.
Makhija reassured voters, Our elections are safe, secure, and accessible. We work daily to ensure this.
In August, CBS News Philadelphia visited Montgomery County’s election office. Staff were hard at work, dealing with some key employees leaving. Some quit due to the pressures of the job.
“There have been threats to personal safety. Some officials needed 24/7 security due to threats and violence, said Makhija. “That’s why some workers left.
These concerns are echoed statewide, even as counties hire replacements. Secretary of Commonwealth Al Schmidt, a Republican, manages the department for Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
“Some left due to the tense environment around elections, while others retired,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt has personal experience with these challenges. As the city commissioner during Philadelphia’s 2020 election, Schmidt and his family were threatened online. Despite this, he’s committed to ensuring confidence in the election process.
In a presidential election with intense scrutiny, even the smallest mistake can be misused to undermine trust in the results,” Schmidt said.
In Montgomery County, the team continues their work. Kathy Smith, an election official, reviews obituaries daily to maintain accurate voter lists.
That’s part of the integrity of the process, said Makhija, addressing concerns that deceased people might still be on voter rolls.
Election Day is a complex operation. In Montgomery County, 2,700 poll workers staff 436 precincts, and many have been working in elections for years.
Officials emphasize that while leadership may change, the local precinct workers bring vital experience to the election process.