We don’t have to travel to Texas or Arizona to find attacks on our democracy. We can find it right here in the Lehigh Valley.
Our very own Lehigh Township has resolved to try to dismantle elections in Northampton County.
On May 11, Cindy Miller, chairwoman of the township board of supervisors, proposed Resolution 2021-9 to, by her account, support “election integrity.” It turns out this was code for election suppression.
The resolution labels as unconstitutional two Pennsylvania Acts — 2019’s Act 77 and 2020’s Act 12, which reformed Pennsylvania’s election code to support fair access to voting. The resolution goes far enough to say the township does not recognize the new election laws.
The resolution passed without objection.
Lehigh Township officials apparently believe they can choose which election laws to follow. They propose eliminating mail-in ballots, vastly reducing voters’ ability to qualify for an absentee ballot, mandating absentee ballots be postmarked two weeks prior to Election Day, removing all ballot drop-boxes and requiring voter photo ID on Election Day.
These are some of the most egregious voter suppression tactics found in the United States today.
Miller also proposes frequent voter roll purging dangerously close to Election Day — no more than one month prior to a primary or general election — in Northampton County. Purging voter rolls close to an election would mean purged voters would not find out in time to re-register because, of course, Lehigh Township’s resolution also prohibits same-day voter registration.
The resolution provides no indication how the township would ensure no one was accidentally purged nor how, or even if they would notify purged voters and give them a fair chance of reregistering.
Lehigh Township proposes to require “photo identification that shows name and current address at the polls to vote.” A 2006 study showed while 89% of the public has a valid photo ID, the 11% who don’t are typically poor and/or minorities.
The resolution makes no effort to make sure people in that category can vote. Lehigh Township goes even further by requiring voter signature verification. They reached back to the Jim Crow era for this one.
Lehigh Township will not allow early or door-to-door canvassing, early ballot counting, or even the distribution of food or water to voters who will clearly be waiting in long lines due to this resolution. All that this does is make it more difficult to vote, especially for Black, brown, Asian, and young voters and anyone who has been purged from the voter rolls.
It is blatant persecution.
One of the most bizarre declarations in this document is: “Lehigh Township supports the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.”
In the midst of a proposal aimed at massively reducing voter access to register and vote, they feel the need to mention their support of their right to bear arms. Yet they don’t mention any other part of the Constitution in this resolution. So why, specifically, do they call this one out in a resolution about voting?
According to minutes, “Phil Gogel made a motion to approve Resolution 2021-9. Keith Hantz seconded the motion. Linda Roman suggested a petition signed by the residents be added to the resolution. All voted aye. Motion carried.”
This is a document of garbage passed by a local government. Thankfully, due to state and county law, the resolution is likely illegal in most regards and will hopefully have no impact on the citizens of Northampton County.
But the damage of having such a resolution become law, however briefly, is done, and further damage will ensue if we do not fight back. For people who thought when Donald Trump was no longer in office, we could find harmony again, don’t fall asleep. We must stay vigilant.
This is a tactic that may change the balance of power and may change our democratic principles. America is supposed to be of, by, and for the people, all people. Yet some politicians continue to fight against that foundation.
Pennsylvanians helped create this country; we must preserve it, too. It starts by protecting the ballot box.
Everyone should be able to vote easily. I hope there are other Republicans in Lehigh Township that care about our democracy.
Mark Pinsley is the Lehigh County controller.
