We agree with Forrest Lehman, director of Lycoming County Voter Services, that it’s time to clear up the confusion that came about during the 2020 election year.

Nobody could have foretold that a global pandemic would shut down our normal comings and goings, but it did. In the midst of finding ways to most safely keep on with life’s routine, including voting, the widespread use of mail-in ballots became the norm.

But it happened so fast that the system became vulnerable to the point that it’s been fraught with suspicion. It’s no wonder that allegations of voter fraud have been so rampant. Let’s consider:

• The pandemic prompted “an explosion” in mail-in ballots.

• It was widely questioned whether the U.S. Postal Service, also working during the pandemic, could deliver the mail-in ballots in a timely manner.

• People lined up outside of Voter Services offices, including the one in Williamsport, in the days before the election.

• Voter Services staff across Pennsylvania were overwhelmed to the point that some quit their jobs.

• Though Voter Services staff tried to get the Legislature to address the issues, no legislation was passed that would have allowed for pre-canvassing of ballots and streamlining the process of counting the vote.

This happened not just in Lycoming County, but statewide.

It must not be allowed to happen again.

Ever.

We stand with our local Voter Services chief and call on Gov. Tom Wolf, the Legislature and the courts to create clarity through meaningful reform. While 2021 is a local election year in which voter turnout traditionally is much lighter, that cannot be a reason to delay.

Signs indicate that our state officials will make it a priority this year.

In response to the distrust that grew out of the 2020 general election, Senate and House Republican leaders announced plans in December to restore confidence in the state’s election system and begin the process of making meaningful reforms.

According to the U.S. Constitution, voting is a right and a privilege.

That means citizens have a responsibility to first show up at polls to cast their ballots or second, complete absentee ballots well in advance of election day if they meet the criteria — in other words, have valid reasons for being unable to physically cast ballots at their local precinct.

That’s called accountability and it affirms trust in the process, period.

State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, in addressing some of the misinformation last month, said the Senate takes these matters “very seriously” and called attention to additional areas in need of exploring. Those include “no excuse” ballots, canvassing and proper voter identification.

The Legislature has the power to move forward with better election laws. It will be up to the governor, then, to sign the legislation.

While it won’t change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, it will improve our election process moving forward.