“It’s a bold vision of a future where older adults can age with dignity and independence with the supports they need in order to succeed,” said Shapiro.

The fifth oldest state in the country, Pennsylvania has seen a rapid growth in its senior population, expected to reach 3.8 million, or 1 in 3 Pennsylvania residents, by 2030. The trend prompted the state to develop a strategic plan to address the needs of the growing population, said Kevin Hancock, project manager for the program.

“This shift requires significant changes to the commonwealth’s infrastructure and the service system to reflect the needs and preferences of this growing population and to support the older adults’ health and quality of life,” said Hancock.

The plan is a culmination of a year-long collaborative effort by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, which received input from more than 20,000 seniors, community members and caregivers at more than 200 listening tours as well as a number of stakeholders, including 29 state agencies, Pennsylvania’s network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), the Pennsylvania AARP and local leaders.

“We built this plan with input from older adults, caregivers and a bunch of very smart and frank people who told us what they thought was needed to improve Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and service system,” said Hancock.

“We are talking about people who we know have worked hard to save and retire,” said Kavulich. “Now they need an investment in the infrastructure that will keep them from having to seek more costly service interventions.”

The plan promises to streamline and bolster the senior service system, with priorities of unlocking access, aging in community, gateways to independence, caregiver supports and education and navigation. Included in the publication unveiled Friday are strategies to improve access to long-term care, health care support, financial services, digital literacy, transportation, food and housing.

“In the past, the commonwealth invested some money, but it was all scattered around state government,” said Shapiro. “Now, it’s under one roof, under one plan, and we have a clear direction on how we’re gonna deliver that help.”

Jennifer Haeussler-Barnhart, Montgomery County Office of Senior Services Administrator, said that the plan will provide a crucial lifeline to low-income seniors.

“Poverty is an issue our office grapples with daily,” said Haeussler-Barnhart. “Over 19,000 older adults are struggling to pay for basics like food and housing, let alone transportation, utilities, medical bills and other expenses. They need the safety net that Aging Our Way offers.”

Shapiro’s 2024-2025 budget proposal includes $11.7 million to implement the plan, with a $10 million funding boost for AAAs, increased funding for caregivers and a new Alzheimer’s Disease division in the Department of Aging. Shapiro said that the state’s $14 billion surplus calls for greater investments in senior services.

“Now is the time to invest,” said Shapiro. “As we see one in every three Pennsylvanians at the end of this decade be a senior, we can look them in the eye and say, ‘We did right by you’.’’

State Sen. Maria Collett and state Rep. Steve Malagari touted their firm support for the plan and urged their fellow lawmakers to approve it.

“It’s up to us in the legislature to pass a budget that shows older and disabled Pennsylvanians that they are truly valued,” said Collett. “Let’s put our money where our mouth is and get this across the finish line.”

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Cole County judge will decide whether the Missouri Republican Party can block a candidate with alleged ties to the Ku Klux Klan from running for governor as a Republican.

Circuit Court Judge Cotton Walker held a one-day trial in Jefferson City on Thursday over a lawsuit from the state party seeking to remove the candidate, Darrell Leon McClanahan III, from the August ballot.

McClanahan, who resides in Milo, a small village in southwestern Vernon County, filed to run for governor as a Republican and paid his $500 filing fee in February. The state party has since disavowed McClanahan after a photo resurfaced online of him saluting in front of a burning cross next to a person who was wearing what appeared to be a hooded Ku Klux Klan robe.

The lawsuit names as defendants both McClanahan and Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who is also running for governor. Walker did not immediately rule on the lawsuit on Thursday.

“The only reason…the party seeks to have him not on the ballot is his avowed membership and endorsement of Ku Klux Klan principles,” Lowell Pearson, an attorney for the party, said on Thursday.

The Missouri GOP argues in its lawsuit it has chosen to disassociate with McClanahan due to his “racism and antisemitism.” That decision, the party argues, is protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Pearson also argued, relying on testimony from Miles Ross, the party’s executive director, that it would be “factually impossible” for the party to vet every single candidate before it accepts their filing fee.

David Roland, an attorney for McClanahan, on Thursday criticized the lawsuit as “political theater.” He argued that the party had opportunities to reject McClanahan’s filing fee but chose not to do so.

“They’ve chosen twice to associate with Mr. McClanahan. And the issue here today is No. 1, they regret that decision. And No. 2, they wish to make a political statement,” Roland said. “This is simply an effort to wave the flag and say, ‘we don’t want to be associated with people that we believe are anti-semites or racists.’”

Thursday’s trial comes just weeks before the final certification date for the August election on May 28. Unless Walker intervenes, McClanahan’s name would appear at the top of the ballot in the Republican primary for governor, according to the unofficial candidate filing list on the Missouri Secretary of State Office’s website.

The lawsuit from the state party includes examples of McClanahan’s racist past, including the photo of him saluting next to the burning cross, a social media post that includes a racial slur, social media posts “using Nazi imagery” and social media post that uses the phrase “White Power.”

But while the lawsuit argues the party did not know about McClanahan’s past, this is not the first time McClanahan has run for elected office as a Republican in Missouri.

The Anti-Defamation League in 2022 wrote about the photo of McClanahan in front of the burning cross after he ran an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate.

McClanahan, in response last year, filed a more than $5 million defamation suit against the organization demanding that the article be removed. In court filings, McClanahan described himself as a “Pro-White man” who is “dedicated to traditional Christian values.”

He said in the lawsuit that he has never been a member of the KKK, but was instead provided an “Honorary 1-year membership” by a Missouri coordinator. McClanahan told The Star in a text message in March that he received an honorary 1-year membership to the League of the South — which the ADL condemns as a white supremacist group.

A federal magistrate judge tossed the lawsuit last year, finding that McClanahan did not sufficiently allege a claim against the organization.

“The Complaint itself reflects that Plaintiff holds the views ascribed to him by the ADL article, that is the characterization of his social media presence and views as antisemitic, white supremacist, anti-government, and bigoted,” the judge wrote in the order.

The push to remove McClanahan from the ballot comes as Missouri Republicans look to hold onto control of the governor’s office after Gov. Mike Parson terms out of office. The major Republican candidates include Ashcroft, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, and Sen. Bill Eigel from Weldon Spring.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade and businessman Mike Hamra are the two major Democratic candidates for governor.

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©2024 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The event brought out more than 150 Democratic supporters, community leaders and elected officials to Salus University amid the 2024 election season. The private college, located in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, features healthcare-focused degree programs.

“We must be vigilant and hold onto these rights,” Harris said to a room full of people.

Harris was not alone on stage. Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph took a break from her role as Barbara Howard on the Philadelphia-based television show, “Abbot Elementary,” to engage in the conversation. Ralph also has ties to the area in her own life as the long-time spouse of state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-7th Dist.

“This human right here isn’t out to connect some of us. She is here to connect all of us. And this human being just happens to be a woman,” Ralph said of Harris as the crowd erupted in applause.

The vice president spent much of Wednesday’s event advocating for abortion rights, an issue that’s sure to be on the minds of voters in November when President Joe Biden faces off against former president Donald Trump in the general election.

Pennsylvania has long been a key election battleground state, and according to a campaign statement, Harris has visited the Keystone State more than a dozen times in the last four years.

The exchange between Harris and Ralph focused on the need to increase overall accessibility as the two stressed the importance of organizations like Planned Parenthood.

“You go to clinics like these because you need health care,” Ralph said, adding that “being a woman is not something to be ashamed of. Listen, if a man can get Viagra, I need health care too.”

Speakers blasted Trump’s policy choices and judicial nominations to the Supreme Court during his presidency. The Supreme Court overturned the controversial Roe v. Wade decision in June 2022, allowing each state to decide on abortion restrictions.

State Sen. Art Haywood, D-4th Dist., is pictured speaking on May 8, 2024 during a campaign event featuring Vice President Kamala Harris at Salus University in Elkins Park. (Rachel Ravina – MediaNews Group)State Sen. Art Haywood, D-4th Dist., represents constituents in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. He took to the stage Wednesday and declared he’s “proud to defend the right to choose.”

Anti-abortion efforts have ramped up in recent months, with some states imposing varying levels of abortion bans and threats of punitive penalties on medical practitioners. Harris spoke of a six-week ban imposed in Florida just last week.

“Which makes very clear — by the way — that these very important so-called leaders are not very clear about how a woman’s body works since most women don’t even know they’re pregnant at six weeks,” Harris said.

“So either they (leaders) don’t know or they don’t care. This is what’s happening in our country in this year, 2024.”

“And so we have to all of us — and I’m preaching to the choir with this group that’s here — we have to be active,” she continued. “We have to stand for these fundamental points that are about freedom, and also, hopefully, that we all as Americans have a sense of empathy and concern about the suffering of other people.”

Some states brought referendums to the voters to decide abortion rights.

“When this issue was on the ballot the American people voted for freedom,” Harris said.

Looking ahead to November, it’s an issue Democrats stressed must be taken seriously.

“We know why we’re here today,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Jamila Winder, a Democrat. “We know the huge issue reproductive rights are right here in this country and potentially in our state.”

“We have seen our rights and freedoms eroded and threatened further since Donald Trump got Roe overturned,” she continued. “Here in Pennsylvania a woman’s right to make medical decisions with her doctor, not her legislator is still the law, but that could change in an instant if Donald Trump makes it back to the White House.”

Natalie Lennick, president of the West Norriton Township-based Whitehall Elementary School’s parent faculty club, agreed.

“I refuse to live in a world where our children have less rights than we did,” Lennick said.

The issues touched Ralph personally, as she shared with the audience that she encountered health issues during her own pregnancy.

“That was 30 years ago. I had more rights 30 years ago,” Ralph said.

Montgomery County officials showed up in droves as representation from elected leaders spanned from local to county to state governments were represented in the audience and as speakers ahead of Harris’ appearance. Among them were Winder and Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Neil Makhija, also a Democrat.

“I think the core message that exercising your right to vote to protect your reproductive freedom is one that is going to be compelling to a lot of women, and men, and really all Montgomery county residents,” Makhija told MediaNews Group.

“It’s great to have the vice president in Montgomery County. We know that Montgomery County is key to this year’s election. So it’s just super exciting,” Winder told MediaNews Group.

Maternal health disparities were also discussed during the conversation. In addition, Harris touched on legislative initiatives during the administration’s first term surrounding gun violence and prescription medications. However, voter outreach was also a key component of Wednesday’s campaign event as Winder implored attendees in her home county to “show up and show out on Nov. 5,” underscoring that “there is so much on the line.”

Trump will be in the greater Philadelphia region later this week, holding a campaign rally in New Jersey, according to media outlets.

The Montgomery County Board of Elections convened late Friday morning with the sole agenda item regarding the “consideration of mail-in ballots with incorrect years.” Senior Assistant Solicitor John Marlatt gave a status report concerning the roughly 60,000 mail-in and absentee ballots returned as part of last month’s primary election.

Voters began receiving ballots on April 1 and had to have them returned by 8 p.m. on April 23. Election officials separated 474 ballots where the month and day were recorded correctly, Marlatt said, “but the year was either missing or incorrect.” Of those, 346 ballots came from Democrats and 137 from Republicans, with the average voting age of 72 years old, Marlatt said.

Marlatt noted in his address to county officials this issue has been highly litigated and the matter of dates has been “challenged twice at the federal level.”

The same issue came before the county election board earlier this year when North Penn School District held a special election. The board ultimately voted 2-1 to allow 75 mail-in ballots, which were shown to have the outer envelope containing an acceptable day and month, “but the voter listed an incorrect year, or did not list a year,” Marlatt said during the Jan. 23 election board meeting.

Montgomery County Election Board Chairman Neil Makhija and Vice Chairwoman Jamila Winder, both Democrats, voted in favor, while Republican Commissioner Tom DiBello was the sole opponent. Friday’s meeting produced a similar result, passing another 2-1 vote in favor of including those 474 mail-in and absentee ballots in the count.

DiBello and Makhija voiced opposing opinions on the issue.

“My opinion hasn’t changed from when we had this conversation earlier on this year with the special election,” DiBello said. “What I’ve heard today and all I keep hearing is about opinions, opinions, opinions.

“Act 77 says that mail-in ballots need to be properly dated and there’s been no change to the law. So as far as I’m concerned opinions don’t mean anything,” he continued. “So I don’t support this. I didn’t support it then, I don’t support it now and I won’t support it moving forward.”

“My fundamental view on this is if we know the voters are eligible, we know they’re properly registered, that we shouldn’t allow something that is immaterial to disqualify or discount their votes, and I could not go to any one of these voters and tell them we’re going to throw out your ballot…” Makhija said.

“I can,” DiBello interjected.

“Over something that is …,” Makhija continued, “well you can vote the way you’d like to vote. So … you made your comment, I’ll make my comment.

“I think it’s really important that this board protect(s) the right to vote for all Montgomery County residents and this is an important measure that would do that,” Makhija continued.

“Obviously in Montgomery County we interpret Act 77 however we want,” DiBello said following the vote.

Voter numbers

Montgomery County had 608,481 registered voters, according to the county’s 2024 unofficial primary election results dashboard. With 148,738 ballots cast, the 2024 primary election had a 24.44 voter turnout rate.

Marlatt noted approximately 1,300 mail-in and absentee ballots were “flagged with issues” during the canvassing process. More than 700 ballots were “rejected” due to concerns over invalid or undated ballots, unsigned declarations or identifications.

Specifically, there were 166 ballots “where voters (were) required to verify ID and failed to do so,” Marlatt said. There were another 164 undated declaration ballots, 155 ballots with invalid dates, 136 ballots with unsigned declarations, 84 naked ballots, and nine “rejected for correspondence ID that was not found.”

Marlatt added that there were 282 ballots “returned as undeliverable,” and 859 ballots “came in after the deadline.”

In addition, 674 provisional ballots were compiled but have not yet been counted.

Ballot concerns

The subject of mail-in ballots on Friday picked up from the previous election board meetings and public comment forums of county commissioner meetings when elected officials and area residents spoke for and against the remote voting opportunities permitted in Pennsylvania.

“This last election was not good performance wise by the county when it came to mail-in ballots,” said Worcester Township resident Jim Mollick on Thursday.

“(I) appreciate you raising the issues from the primary election and … the three of us take delivering on our elections very seriously and we want to ensure, especially during a presidential year, that we unpack every part of the process, and take the feedback that we’re getting from the community very seriously in terms of how we can improve things,” Winder said at the commissioners’ meeting.

Winder made a “commitment” that the election board plans to conduct an “after action” report to improve procedures for the general election in November. DiBello called for more structure when it comes to election-related planning.

“The primary election we had significant issues with the entire mail-in process, and I think it’s prudent as this election board moving forward that going into the general election in November that we have regularly scheduled meetings at least monthly,” he said on Friday, adding that it’s crucial to “have a lot of oversight and understand exactly step by step what’s occurring and when it’s occurring and even a layout of the schedule what happens before during and after the election.”

Winder and Makhija stressed the importance of meeting with staff, vendors and state partners to get on the same page.

“We’re systematically reviewing every step of the mail-in process on how we can make it more efficient,” Makhija said on Thursday, noting there were difficulties statewide as “none of the counties were able to meet the 50-day deadline” of sending out mail-in ballots due to the fact the “courts did not confirm who’s on the ballot” within a timely fashion.

“As for what we can do at the county, we’re going to work with all of our vendors to make sure that they have the proper capacity and can efficiently process the hundreds of thousands of ballots they’re going to need to for us,” Makhija said.

Winder agreed.

“That’s critical,” she said. “We know what the state needs to do, but it’s like what can we do with what we know we can control? I know we’re collectively committed to that.”

All results are considered unofficial until certified by the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Officials have until May 13 to do so.

His death on April 25 was announced by the Tomlinson Funeral Home of Bensalem and confirmed by his family.

“Earl Baker had a vision for Chester County as a leader among counties and a premier place to live and work,” said Karen Martynick, who worked for Baker in his capacity as a local and state Republican leader and who later succeeded him as county commissioner. “Many people forget that Chester County was a pretty sleepy and mostly rural county when Earl became commissioner.

“But he saw a future that was very different from that sleepy, rural county,” she said. “He knew growth was coming and he was determined to make sure the county was prepared.

“He made it his mission to modernize county government,” she said of his 12 years in office in West Chester.  “He put the people, policies, and processes in place to move the county into the 21st century.  Earl took every opportunity to ‘sell’ Chester County to major employers and lobbied state and federal officials to bring the resources necessary to fulfill his vision of what Chester County could be.”

“Many of his reforms and policies remain intact from his time as commissioner,” former commissioner and U.S. congressman Ryan Costello said on Monday. “Due to his skills and intellect, he moved up in the ranks rather quickly as well. He was a kind and decent man, and from a public service perspective, he will be remembered as one of the best ‘politicos’ Chester County has ever had.”

Baker was living in Malvern in the 1970s and working as a political science professor at Temple University when he was recruited to serve as a Republican committeeman in the borough after becoming involved in a local zoning dispute. He then rose through the ranks of the party as it recovered from the scandal involving Theodore S.A. Rubino, the county commissioners’ chairman and head of the party who was indicted for extortion.

Baker was elected commissioner in 1976 and served off and on as chairman of that three-member body for two more successive terms. He was then elected as state senator for the 19th state Senatorial District in 1988 and served two terms. After an unsuccessful run for governor, Baker largely stepped away from the political limelight, working as a corporate and later political consultant.

He also wrote about his experiences in politics, offered commentary about the county’s political history, and even wrote a book of poetry, titled “Heroes and Hypocrites.”

“My father knew so many people and connected them,” said his daughter, Toby Tomlinson Baker.” He had so much energy and was on so many committees. He loved helping people.”

His presence on the public stage may have dimmed in the past decades, but in the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s there was no larger figure in county government or politics than Baker, who was an affable man not shy about using his power to get what he wanted accomplished. There were those who bristled at his way of doing business, but he proved highly successful at bringing the county into the modern world, expanding its scope and services.

He was responsible for reaching out to federal and state government funding sources to provide services in the county ranging from mental health to public safety and human services. He created a solid waste authority that centralized the waste management practices in the county. He also helped centralize the county’s emergency response system in the pre-9-1-1 days and moved the main branch of the county’s library to West Whiteland, where it remains as part of a multi-facility library system.

On a more fundamental level, Baker largely removed political considerations from hiring practices in county departments, leaning more on a candidate’s professional experience than their “it’s-who-you-know” bonafides.

Even though the county library move was controversial at the time, with opponents complaining that it moved a beloved institution from its longtime home in West Chester, in his later years Baker devoted his public service to the institution. In 2019, Baker formally received a citation from the Pennsylvania Library Association naming him 2019 Library Trustee of the Year, recognizing his two decades working to improve the library system in the county.

“During his tenure as a trustee, Earl has been a driving force behind strategic plans to better meet the needs of patrons and to make Chester County libraries among the top-rated libraries in the country,” association Executive Director Christi Buker said at the meeting, as Baker sat and listened.

“He was such an advocate for the library, and so strongly influenced the services that we offer,” said JoAnn Weinberger, past president of the library board. As a founder of the Chester County Library Trust, “he knew that to be renowned for services there needs to be private funding” in addition to public dollars.

In addition to his work as commissioner, he also served as the Republican State Chairman of Pennsylvania from 1986 to 1990 and was a member of the National Republican Committee. He was elected as a delegate to three national conventions and was a presidential elector in the Electoral College in 1988, the year that George H. W. Bush was elected the forty-first President.

In 1980 he chaired the Ronald Reagan for President campaign in the county and in 1984 he headed the entire southeastern Pennsylvania campaign. He was close politically with both Reagan — whom he brought to the new Great Valley Corporate Center to promote the county as the center of the high-tech business world of the future — and the elder Bush — whose 67 percent victory margin in the county helped propel him to the presidency in 1988.

Baker also saw the county he called home to undergo a political transformation, from a long-time Republican stronghold to one of the “purple” counties in the state where Democrats flipped the plurality of voters to its favor.

In 2008, as the change was underway and the county voted for a Democratic presidential candidate, Baker gave a talk on Main Line politics at the Tredyffrin Historical Society and marveled at what was occurring.

“(Democrats) said among themselves, ‘The Republicans are fat, dumb, and happy, and if we work hard we’ll be able to make inroads.’” he said. “Three years ago there were two Democratic supervisors elected in Tredyffrin township. Again, when I read that in the newspaper, my reaction was, ‘How did that happen? How could that ever have happened?’ ”

Although he no longer was actively involved in politics as a campaigner or officeholder, he did not shy away from that world and was happy to offer counsel to others who came after him.

“Earl Baker was more than just a statesman; he was my friend,” said current Commissioner Eric Roe, now the minority member on the board. “Earl took me under his wing in 2016 when I first ran for the state House of Representatives and subsequently won that election. I didn’t ask him to mentor me, he just did it.

“He knew all the state-level policy issues inside and out, and he knew how to articulate them well,” Roe said. “I often called him up just to pick his brain, either while running for office or holding office.

“To me, Earl Baker represented a bygone era when politics was more civil and refined,” said Roe. “He was the classy, genteel statesman that I strived to imitate. When I look around and see how uncivilized the political world has become, I often think of Earl Baker and remind myself of how much better things could be.”

Said Martynick of his tutelage, “He told me once that he liked to throw people into the ‘deep end’ when he knew they could swim but they didn’t know it yet. On my first day on the job, he sent me to meet with Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton, who was running for governor, along with his top campaign staff.  I was scared to death.  He thought it would be a ‘good introduction’ to state politics.

“The opportunities he afforded me set me up for a career in government and politics and later in the nonprofit world,” said the former executive director of the Lancaster Farmland Trust.  “He introduced me to presidents, corporate executives, and community leaders and encouraged me to build relationships that benefited me both professionally and personally.  He encouraged me to take risks and to do things I didn’t think I could do.

Baker was born on Jan. 22, 1940, in Philadelphia, and attended the University of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill, N.C. where he majored in political science. He served in the U.S. Navy as an officer and met his wife, Jacqueline Barnaby Baker in Newport, R.I. They were married on January 18, 1964, and were happily married for 60 years.

Mr. Baker is survived by his wife, his son, Todd Barnaby Baker, and his daughter,

A viewing is set for Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Providence Friends Meeting, 105 N. Providence Roar, Media, followed by his service at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at the Providence Friends Meeting Cemetery.

Toby Baker recalled that her father was not unable to laugh at himself as a political figure.

“When my dad was running against Tom Ridge for governor, I was 16 and I used to go to events in his place, while he went to a different one,” she recalled in an email. “I remember all the other speakers had long speeches and mine was only 30 seconds. I said ‘I’m Toby Baker, and my father Earl Baker is running for governor. Please vote for my dad!’

“My speech was so short, everyone was so happy. I was the only speaker who got a standing ovation,” she said. “I told my dad and he got such a kick out of it.”

To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544.

The incumbent Democrat received 124 votes, while Republican opponent Antonio Davila had 24 votes, according to Montgomery County’s 2024 primary election unofficial results dashboard. Hughes, a senior assistant solicitor with the Montgomery County Solicitor’s Office, announced her intentions in early March to run to represent the municipality’s fourth district.

She’d first been appointed to serve out the remainder of former Councilman Hakim Jones’ term as he resigned to run for a magisterial district judgeship in the 2023 election.

Democrat Dionne Lee ran unopposed in the 2023 general election, receiving 1,024 votes in her favor, with another 22 write-in votes reported, according to 2023 election results. However, Lee was never sworn in, as Solicitor Sean Kilkenny said she was “ineligible to take office because of a prior conviction.”

Hughes was once again named and sworn in to serve on a temporary basis until the special election could decide a permanent replacement.

“I’ve learned that there’s just a lot of hope and promise in Norristown,” Hughes told MediaNews Group in January. “Norristown is about to really blow up, and I’m excited that I have a direct role in that from the development that’s coming, the businesses that are coming to the community. We made a lot of big decisions this last year, and I think it’s going to continue on this year.”

Along with the special election in the county seat, Montgomery County voters came out to make their choices in national and state races. There were 608,481 registered voters, according to the county’s 2024 unofficial primary election results dashboard.

In-person voting shows 89,783 ballots counted across 426 precincts on Election Day, according to unofficial results posted as of 1:45 a.m. Wednesday. The election’s absentee and mail-in component had 60,408 ballots returned, and 58,949 ballots counted. Another 1,459 were considered “pending evaluation.” Counting of provisional and military ballots has not yet started.

This comes as delays surrounding mail-in ballots dominated the Montgomery County Board of Elections’ meeting on Monday.

“This is the first election overseeing the process as new commissioners and I am developing a number of recommendations that I think will improve the process,” Montgomery County Election Board Chairman Neil Makhija told MediaNews Group Wednesday morning. “I am glad that while we had some issues with USPS and delivery, our team reacted quickly to communicate to the electorate through new means, like obtaining all voter’s emails, and informing them about the importance of returning ballots through drop boxes.”

The presidential primary race was top of mind for voters as they decided who they’d like to see on the ballot in November.

Unofficial results for the Democrats show 87,322 votes for President Joe Biden and 3,617 votes for Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips. The Republican race had 38,001 votes for former president Donald Trump, and 12,437 votes for former candidate Nikki Haley, who suspended her campaign last month.

Additionally, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, and Republican candidate Dave McCormick each ran unopposed, receiving 92,142 votes and 48,003 votes, respectively, according to the county’s unofficial election results dashboard. Both names will likely appear on the November ballot.

All results are considered unofficial until certified by the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Officials have until May 13 to do so.

The three-member board convened less than 24 hours before the polls open for in-person voting, and all mail-in ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday when polls close.

“We are responsible for delivering on our elections and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said Montgomery County Election Board Vice Chairwoman Jamila Winder, adding that officials are “looking at every step in the process leading up to the primary.”

“I apologize to anyone that’s been inconvenienced by some of the delays,” Winder said.

Montgomery County Election Board Chairman Neil Makhija agreed, kicking off his opening comments acknowledging several issues that have taken place amid the start of the election season.

“We are thoroughly analyzing every step of the mail-in process right now,” Makhija said. “There wasn’t enough time in this primary really for people to get their mail-in and send it back, and part of that is the statutory context.”

“It’s impossible for the state to actually meet the requirements, because the certification of the election happened just about a month before this election, and we really want to get to a place where we’re mailing 50 days before at least, and so there’s a number of steps that we’re going to take including meeting with all of the vendors.”

Makhija noted there “aren’t specific turnaround times” listed in the aforementioned vendor contracts, which is something he’d like to address before the November general election.

DiBello says he’s left out

Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello was apparently unaware of issues being looked into by his fellow election board members, underscoring that “we doesn’t include me.”

“So I don’t know what recommendations or things that we are going to be proposing, but I’m not specifically happy with the fact where we are today with the complete mess that the primary’s been with the ballots, but I would assure everyone that when I’m not happy, when I get pissed off, then I dig in,” DiBello said. “After tomorrow, I’m digging in because I’m not doing this come November.”

While DiBello and Makhija took similar stances on the need to work with the state legislature to ensure stakeholders are on the same page, DiBello noted the need for work to be done locally.

“It’s a very complex process, and I think that we, as three new commissioners that are now inheriting some of the issues … working and trying to do everything we could to ensure that we could get the ballots out, but we definitely have our work cut out for us, and come next week, after the dust settles we’re going to really dig in deep, and really get this to the point where come November, we’re running as smooth as possible,” DiBello said.

“I think all three of us are aligned on that,” Makhija replied.

Frustrated voters

Schwenksville resident Joanne Schweitzer shared during the meeting’s public comment period that her husband had opted to vote by mail, but “only received (a mail-in ballot) a few days ago.”

“He would have had to fill it out the day that he received it and hope that it would have gotten in time for tomorrow. So it just wasn’t enough time and I just wanted to let you know that,” she said.

Schweitzer said her husband plans to fill out the ballot and return it Tuesday to a drop box in Skippack Township.

“Our apologies. We’re well aware of this and … we’re going to make sure that this does not happen,” Makhija said.

Makhija maintained the safety and security of a dozen drop boxes situated across Montgomery County. They’re located in Cheltenham, Lansdale, Lower Merion, Norristown, Pottstown, Royersford, Skippack, Upper Dublin, Upper Frederick, Upper Merion and Upper Moreland townships. Monitored by video surveillance, the drop boxes will be available to drop off ballots until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

“They are significantly more secure than postal boxes,” Makhija said.

In addition to mail-in ballots, public comment centered around election integrity and the need for “quality assurance” procedures to be made available to the public.

In addition, county election officials authorized the appointment of 76 election tabulators, more than 2,600 poll workers, and members of the canvassing board, an entity made up of more than 80 people, both county employees and registered Montgomery County voters.

What’s on ballot

Along with the presidential primary, several congressional and state candidates will be on the ballot. Locally, the Municipality of Norristown will hold a special election where voters will choose a seat left vacant after a candidate was ineligible to take office.

Norristown Councilwoman Lauren Hughes, a Democrat, has been serving on an interim basis and is running for the seat in the municipality’s fourth district against Republican Antonio Davila.

An election-related tip line was established by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. Anyone wishing to report any suspicious activity on Election Day can call 610-292-2024.

Anyone with questions about the upcoming election in Montgomery County can contact the Montgomery County Office of Voter Services. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on the sixth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St., Norristown. Call 610-278-3280 or visit montgomerycountypa.gov/VoterServices for more information.

Anyone who sees someone attempting to break into the ballot drop boxes, delivering multiple ballots to the boxes, damaging the boxes or otherwise doing something suspicious or criminal is asked to immediately call the Election Tip Line of 610-292-2024.

“Today I want to reassure Montgomery County residents that we will use all means to make certain we have a safe, secure and valid election here in Montgomery County, for both in-person voting on Election Day and for voting by dropping off completed paper ballots,” said District Attorney Kevin R. Steele. “If the facts and evidence warrant it, we will prosecute anyone who attempts to interfere with this election.”

The 12 secure ballot drop box locations spread throughout Montgomery County are available to drop off ballots through 8 p.m., on April 23. All ballot drop box locations are under video surveillance. They are located in Cheltenham, Lansdale, Lower Merion, Norristown (two locations), Pottstown, Royersford, Skippack, Upper Dublin, Upper Frederick, Upper Merion and Upper Moreland.

Addresses for secure drop boxes, as well as voting instructions, can be found on the county’s website at https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/3587/Secure-Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations.

On Election Day, a team of prosecutors and detectives will be available for referral and to respond to any complaints. No irregularities are expected to occur with the election; however, the team will be ready to assist in protecting the integrity of our electoral system as well as protect individuals working at voting locations.

First Assistant Ed McCann Jr., Assistant District Attorney Jediah Grobstein and Montgomery County Detectives will work with state, county and local law enforcement, as well as other government officials, to protect access to and the integrity of the April 23 primary election. Reported violations of election laws will be investigated, and if appropriate, prosecuted.

Any potential problems on election day should be reported by calling the Election Tip Line at 610-292-2024, emailing jediah.grobstein@montgomerycountypa.gov or by calling the County Radio Room at 610-275-1222.

The inductees were honored during an April 4 ceremony, having voted in 50 general elections. Additionally, others were recognized who’ve voted in the past 50 elections, including primaries, before reaching 50 years old.

“This is an inspiring day, as we recognize people’s unshakeable faith in the democratic system,” said Montgomery County Board of Elections Chairman Neil Makhija in a statement. “And especially as Pennsylvanians, you are extremely coveted voters. You come in year after year to be a part of shaping the future of the country. You have made it through many moments when the voices of Pennsylvanians have been pivotal in the history of the country.”

County officials stressed the importance of voter outreach and participation ahead of the 2024 election season. The primary is scheduled to take place on April 23.

“So many times I hear, ‘I’m not voting, it’s a local election.’ It’s always important to vote in presidential elections like this year, but the off-year races are just as important, if not more important,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello in a statement. “You set the tone as far as dedication to voting. I hope you tell your friends and family to follow in your footsteps.”

Among those inducted into the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Elections Bureau program was former Abington Commissioner D. Gregory Holt II.

“I would always remind young people that not voting has consequences. There has to be an issue that’s part of that election process that’s important to them, and even if there are other things that they don’t feel are important, or they have no interest in, make that one issue important enough to get you out to vote,” Holt said in a statement.

“But also, at some point, some of the things that they don’t think are as important to them now, may become important to their future children or grandchildren,” he continued. “Politics is a long game. Things get passed that may not affect you for a while.”

Joseph Burkert, 28, was also in attendance, having voted in 20 consecutive elections since turning 18 years old.

“I think it’s important to vote because regardless of what you think, whether it’s this way or that way, your voice needs to be heard. It’s important to have the country know what you think,” Burkert said in a statement.

Eligibility for the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame requires participants to have been born before 1955 and voted in every general election since 1973. Information is verified through the Pennsylvania Department of State, according to a county spokesperson.

Those interested in being considered for Pennsylvania’s Voter Hall of Fame can submit their application to the Montgomery County Office of Voter Services via email at montcovotes@montgomerycountypa.gov or by mail to Montgomery County Voter Services, P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311.

The county’s voter services office will have additional hours of operation at various satellite offices and access to submit mail-in ballots via drop boxes will begin on April 13. Visit the office’s website for more information at montgomerycountypa.gov/Voter-Services.

Gift cards have become an increasingly widespread way for scammers to defraud Pennsylvanians, according to a press release from Ciresi’s office. Gift cards are easy to purchase, almost impossible to track and allow fraudsters to quickly move money on them, making them a popular payment method demanded by scammers.

Sometimes fraudsters claim to be associated with government agencies, legitimate businesses, or even victims’ families, creating a sense of urgency to get their victims to buy gift cards as payment. Reports of gift card fraud to the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker increased by 50% in 2023.

“Last year, the Federal Trade Commission reported that victims lost $217 million due to gift card fraud,” Ciresi said. “In response to constituents telling me heartbreaking stories of being defrauded of thousands of dollars as a result of these scams, I’ve introduced my bill to help protect Pennsylvania’s consumers from gift card fraud.”

Ciresi’s legislation, (H.B. 2186), would require retailers selling gift cards to post clear signage warning consumers about gift card scams where gift cards are displayed and at the point of sale. Retailers would also be required to train their employees on how to identify and respond to suspected victims of gift card-related scams.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection would be directed to produce model signage and training to help retailers with the implementation of these requirements.

“As scammers get increasingly sophisticated in their methods, we need to do all we can to educate the public and make sure they have the information they need to not become the next victim of fraud,” Ciresi said. “My bill would help ensure that Pennsylvania’s residents and retailers are on guard against gift card fraud and are alert whenever anyone asks for payment with gift cards.”