Luzerne County Election Board Defers Referendum Challenge to Court

The Luzerne County Election Board voted 5-0 on Wednesday to decline a review of a challenge against a citizen-initiated petition seeking to repeal the county's non-discrimination ordinance. The challenge, filed September 5 by Action Together NEPA and seven residents, alleged that 8,971 of the 15,405 signatures collected for the August 10 petition were deficient due to registration errors or intentional deception by collectors.

By refusing to act, the board leaves the matter for the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas to decide. The petition, led by former county controller Walter Griffith, seeks a referendum on the 2027 primary ballot to overturn the June 9 ordinance. That ordinance would establish a human relations commission to enforce anti-discrimination rules for housing, employment, and health care, including protections for gender identity and sexual orientation.

In separate administrative actions, the board ruled out adding new mail ballot drop boxes before the November 3 general election, citing time and resource constraints. However, the board approved relocating the southern county drop box to Hazleton City Hall and authorized several polling place changes resulting from facility issues and church closures.