Most people can vote at their local precinct. Many military personnel must rely on the mail for their ballot to be counted.
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, David J. Freed, the FBI, the Department of Justice and the Pennsylvania State Police, are investigating reports of “potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots at the Luzerne County Board of Elections.” The U.S. Attorney’s office got involved “at the request of Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis.”
Freed announced Thursday afternoon that his office had opened an inquiry into the disposal of nine military mail-in ballots at the Luzerne County Board of Elections.They have thus far recovered nine discarded military ballots. Each of the discarded ballots were cast in support of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Freed’s office said, “Of the nine ballots that were discarded and then recovered, seven were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump. Two of the discarded ballots had been resealed inside their appropriate envelopes by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown.” He also 
said, “Some of the ballots can be attributed to specific voters and some cannot.”
Freed’s office said, “The discarded ballots were for the Nov. 3 general election and they were improperly opened by county staff.” The DOJ said some of the discarded ballots could be attributed to specific voters and others could not. DOJ also alleges local Pennsylvania officials opened the discarded military mail-in ballots.
“Our inquiry remains ongoing and we expect later today to share our up to date findings with officials in Luzerne County,” the DOJ statement reads. “It is the vital duty of government to ensure that every properly cast vote is counted.”
The potential for problems with widespread mail-in balloting has been in the news as President Trump has on numerous occasions raised concerns, about mail-in voting. It is suggested to voters that you vote in person at your local precinct voting place.
Michael Reed is Editor of The Standard.
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