Despite approval for a drop box at the Schuylkill County Elections office, there isn’t one.

“We want to make sure it is one ballot per person,” Albert Gricoski, director of elections, said.

Gricoski said he made the decision to not put the drop box there but will reevaluate.

The election board discussed the topic last month.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled previously county boards of elections are permitted by the election code to collect mail-in ballots at sites other than the election office. The court also extended the time for absentee and mail-in ballots so those postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 and received by the respective election offices by 5 p.m. Nov. 6 can be counted.

Oct. 27 is the deadline to apply for mail-in ballots.

Monday was the last day to register to vote.

“It’s crazy down there,” Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess said.

He was aware there is no drop box, the only site in the county that was slated to have one. Hess said voters can drop off the ballot to a worker that will take it.

“What’s the difference between a drop box and a person in the window?” Hess said.

He said a drop box was in the hallway of the building for the June primary, which was only accessible during normal business hours.

Hess said Gricoski made the decision that is best for the office and the circumstances.

Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington said, “There is nothing in the law that says there has to be a collection box.”

He said having a box there is “more complicated” because of security concerns.

Hetherington also expressed concern that a voter might drop in more than their ballot.

“What’s to stop someone from walking in with 10 or 15 ballots. What does it gain by having a box there?” he said.

He said voters have walked in with more than their ballot to drop off.

“What Al is doing is the best situation,” Hetherington said.

The lack of a drop box at the election office didn’t bother Tamaqua resident Marie O’Donnell, 70, who dropped off her mail-in ballot.

However, other locations in the county could have benefited from a drop box, she said.

Returning her ballot in person was important to her so she knows it was received and counted.

“I did have concerns about it being lost in the mail,” she said.

While there, she said residents were registering to vote. A table is in the hallway before entering the office.

She takes her civic duty very seriously.

“Vote. Don’t say well, I don’t like either candidate. Vote with what your heart is telling you is best for this country,” she said.

Her husband, Dennis O’Donnell, 70, said he will go to the polling place in Tamaqua to vote.