Fayette County Election Bureau Hosting Inaugural Expo

Uniontown, PA - The Fayette County Election Bureau will host its first Election Expo Tuesday, March 12.

Known as the 2024 Primary Open House, the expo will offer two sessions - from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. - in which Fayette County citizens can enjoy a one-stop-shop for all things election-related.

"The right to vote is one of our most fundamental rights as Americans. In Pennsylvania, each county has the responsibility for running free and equal elections to protect that right and, here in Fayette, we are no different," said Fayette County Election Bureau Director Marybeth Kuznik. "By hosting these events, the election bureau hopes to provide information that will make the election process more transparent and make it easier for everyone who is eligible to join in and vote."

Expo attendees will be able to cast mock ballots through sample voting; get hands-on experience with election training technology; meet and greet election bureau officials; tour election facilities; sign up to become poll workers; and receive all materials needed to help them vote on Election Day.

The expo will take place in the Commissioners' Conference Room at 2 West Main St. in Uniontown.

A guided tour of the Fayette County Election Bureau, located across the hall in suite 111, will take place at both 3 and 6 p.m. Attendees interested in the tour must sign up upon arrival at the expo. A Pennsylvania driver's license or other identification will be required, and spots will be limited for each tour.

Kuznik said it's "crucially important" for citizens to have the opportunity to "learn how their elections operate" and "get all the information they need" about voter registration and voting practices.

"It's important not only for big presidential elections like 2024, but every year, when our important local offices are elected. We hope folks who attend will learn what we do in the Election Bureau to process their vote and see the many safeguards that are in place to protect our elections," she said. "We also want our voters to learn about opportunities to get more involved in our elections as poll workers. Most importantly, we want everyone who comes to get the information they need to get their voter registration up to date and make a plan for voting in 2024, either in person or by mail."

Fayette County Election Board Chairman Scott Dunn said transparency is paramount when operating any election, especially during a presidential year.

"We're expecting record numbers of people voting in Fayette County this year, so it's important that voting is not only easy and accessible to everyone, but that our voters feel secure in casting their ballots," Dunn said. "Fair and safe elections allow us to maintain the integrity of our democratic process - something Fayette County strives to achieve each and every time. We look forward to welcoming voters to our first open house event and hope they learn something new about our process while they're here."

Election Board member Vince Vicites said transparency is important across all functions of county government - "especially with the election process."

"Our election bureau employees work very hard to conduct the best elections possible, and our poll workers are fiercely dedicated to helping the election process run smoothly at every precinct, every time," Vicites said. "We're proud to be able to open our doors and offer a one-stop-shop for all voters ahead of the upcoming primary."

Election Board member Dave Lohr said voting "lies at the very heart of our democratic process" and "transparency is key" to ensuring election results "are actually supported by the data."

"Without the ability to verify not only who can vote but also who actually voted, as well as who has access to ballots and how ballots are counted, how can there be any assurance the outcome was fair? That's what transparency is about - mechanisms for assuring election fairness. If the public is not confident in the fairness of the election, then our whole system of government is at risk," Lohr said. "Fayette County's dedication to secure, fair elections is readily apparent in the painstaking attention to detail that went into the design of the suite for the Election Bureau in its new location in the Gallatin Bank Building. It's designed to create and maintain a safe, secure and efficient environment for carrying out the function most essential to our representative democracy - open, honest and fair elections. The people of Fayette County expect and deserve nothing less."

Pennsylvania's 2024 Primary Election Day is April 23. The last day to register to vote in the primary is April 8. The last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is April 16. Visit www.vote.pa.gov for more information about upcoming elections.

To learn more about the Fayette County Election Bureau, visit www.fayettecountypa.org/230/Election-Bureau or email [email protected].

To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.

Editor's Note: Image attached (Election Expo 2024 Open House)

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This communication, among other initiatives, is funded through the 2016 Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.

For more information, contact Kristi Kassimer Harper, Public Relations Specialist, at 724-437-4571, [email protected] or Kaylie Glaze, Community Relations Coordinator, at 724-430-1200 Ext. 1611, [email protected].