After the presidential election eight years ago, I submitted a letter about how heartwarming it was for me, as our precinct's minority inspector, to witness people of all ages and races, some with obvious mobility issues or disabilities, making the effort to come to the polls and cast their vote.

I found it interesting to see the different modes of transportation voters used to get there — one college student came rolling in on his skateboard. Others drove, walked, took Ubers or hitched a ride with friends or neighbors. All to ensure they voted and that their vote counted.

Fast forward to Election Day 2024. While our precinct was busy all day, I was saddened by the nearly 70 people, many of them college students, who either weren’t registered or were registered in other counties or states.

They came expecting to be able to vote anyway, but they were not allowed via the standard ballot sent through the scanner. They had to fill out a provisional ballot, which the judge and I hand-delivered to the county seat. The Election Bureau then had to open each provisional ballot and determine if that person's vote was legal and would count.

While I was happy to see a great turnout of young people, I was disheartened by the lack of information about the voting process. Some may have had a rude awakening once they tracked the unique ID number on their provisional ballot and found their vote was not counted due to their lack of preparedness.

I hope for a more informed electorate in subsequent elections.

Daphne A. Turner,

minority inspector in Slippery Rock Township