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WHEREAS, More than 160 million Americans fulfilled their constitutionally protected civic duty of casting their vote for the 46th President of the United States and for their local elected representatives during the general election held on Nov 3rd of 2020; and,
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WHEREAS, the record turnout, unseen in more than a century, brought nearly two thirds of the eligible voting population to the cast a ballot; and,
WHEREAS, because of unprecedented actions by the sitting president, this election’s integrity was, and continues to be, under threat through the use of disinformation, encouragement of malicious threats and actions, and misuse of the judicial system to undermine it; and,
WHEREAS, the election takes place through the tireless efforts of local boards of election, which ensure that every single eligible voter is able to vote and that every single eligible vote is counted; and,
WHEREAS, Allegheny County Board of Elections recruited, trained and prepared nearly seven thousand poll workers in anticipation of this election in order to ensure that no persons were disenfranchised at any of the county’s one thousand, three hundred voting precincts; and,
WHEREAS, in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than two hundred and thirty five thousand people in the United States, thousands of poll workers volunteered to spend a long and demanding day at the polls in Allegheny County and put themselves at risk of harassment, intimidation, and infection as an expression of civic duty; and,
WHEREAS, for no personal gain other than to satisfy a civic need, poll workers and ballot counters volunteer to serve as insurers of our democracy, protecting our legacy of free, fair, and open elections and their critical role is the basis of a system we rightfully trust to carry out the accurate wishes of the electorate; and,
WHEREAS, poll workers and ballot counters act selflessly to progress the foundation of our treasured democracy, a grandiose vision of a peaceful determination of our leaders that is realized in church foyers, elementary school auditoriums and residential garages all throughout our region and our nation; and,
NOW BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby offers sincere gratitude to the poll workers, the ballot counters and the election clerks who volunteer to allow this election to proceed. The Council also honors and acknowledges the commitment of the Allegheny Board of Elections and the individuals who, despite the difficulty of the situation, rose to the challenge and served to protect our rights as Americans; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, a copy of this Will of Council is sent with sincere recognition to the Allegheny County Board of Elections in honor of a successful administration of an election in the center of the national spotlight.