Over 100 Lebanon County voters inducted into PA Voter Hall of Fame

Over 100 Lebanon County voters were inducted Wednesday to the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame during a special ceremony to honor those who have achieved what was called a tremendous accomplishment. 

The 102 inductees who are now part of what was called “a very exclusive club” have voted in every election for 50 consecutive November elections, according to Sean D. Drasher, Lebanon County’s director of Elections and Voter Registration.

“Just to put that number into perspective, we normally only nominate one to two a year,” Drasher said. “To have so many of our local citizens gathered here at the same time, all earning this incredible distinction at once … it’s an honor for us and a wonderful reflection on Lebanon County.”

This award program was created 40 years ago. Since then, more than 25,000 Pennsylvanians having been inducted, including 300 Lebanon County residents, according to Al Schmidt, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of State.

A number of state and locally elected officials presented at the event before about 80 attendees in the auditorium of the St. James Players Theatre in the Lebanon Valley Mall. Lebanon County Commission chairman Mike Kuhn, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues who also were in attendance, evoked a comment from a Founding Father. 

That statement framed the importance of the civic duty of every citizen to cast their ballot in an election.

“Thomas Jefferson once wrote, ‘We do not have a government by the majority. We have a government by the majority who participate.’ Our founders understood the importance of a free society and self-governance,” Kuhn said. “They ensured that all American citizens have the right to vote, but the truly greatest Americans, in my opinion, understand the responsibility associated with that right. They, you, are the true leaders in our community and our great nation. Today we gather to recognize you, right here in Lebanon County. Your commitment is a wonderful example to your neighbors. Thank you.”

State Rep. Russ Diamond (R-102) highlighted the significance of voting in every election and not just in the presidential election every four years.

“I think it’s important to note that far too many Pennsylvania’s think we only have elections every four years. They only show up when the big man in D.C. is on the ballot. And that’s ridiculous,” Diamond said. “Because that’s the government that’s the furthest away from us. The government that’s closest to us is those that we elect in the odd-numbered years, the school boards, the county commissioners, the township supervisors.”

Diamond said those elections matter more than the one for national office.

“That’s the government that’s closest to us. So for all of you here who are being honored today, you’re the ones who are shaping the government that’s closest to us. And I want to say congratulations and thank you for actually paying enough attention to local government, which is far more important than state government and even more important than federal government,” Diamond added.

State Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) spoke about the right of American citizens to vote.

“It certainly is an honor to be in a room full of real patriots. You just have to watch the news every night and you see countries around this world where people are fighting and giving their lives for the right to have the right to vote,” Gebhard said. “And I think one of the things that we forget in this country is how important that is and how valuable and how big of an honor it is to be able to participate in that process.”

He agreed with Diamond’s assessment.

“It’s sad that when we see voter turnout numbers and participation numbers, we see numbers that are basically as low as they’ve ever been in the history of this country. Rep. Diamond, Russ, was exactly right. We have far too many people in this country that feel like we have elections every four years. But we don’t. We have elections every year. And every year those elections matter.”

And he honored the attendees.

“It’s certainly just amazing that we had the opportunity to celebrate people that have been committed to that process, that believe in that process, in what makes this country what it is, and that’s coming out to vote. And that’s coming out to make your voice heard, and that we have the opportunity to celebrate people that have done it 50 years in a row is awesome. It’s truly awesome,” Gebhard said.

State Rep. John Schlegel (R-101) called the inductees a “remarkable group of citizens in Lebanon County.”

“Individuals who have exercised their right to vote, not once, not twice, but consistently for 50 consecutive years. That kind of commitment is more than a habit. It is a testament to faith in our democratic process and a deep sense of civic duty,” Schlegel said. “Through times of change, challenge, and progress, you have shown up. Election after election, you have made your voice heard. Your dedication strengthens our community and sets a powerful example for future generations. So on behalf of a grateful community, thank you for your consistency, your patriotism, and your unwavering participation in the foundation of our great republic.”

Schmidt discussed the commitment to voting made by these individuals who achieved a tremendous accomplishment. 

“For all of today’s inductees, there had to be some election days when you were ill, when you were busy, when you had work or family commitments, when the weather was bad, or you faced other challenges that made casting your vote inconvenient,” he said. “But you persevered through all of this and made exercising your constitutional right to vote a top priority. All of you being honored here today value the future of our commonwealth and our nation, enough to show up to vote every single time. You’re role models of civic engagement.”

Schmidt read the names of three local voters who have cast theirs at least 70 consecutive November elections. They are Priscilla Wolf, 75, of Lebanon; Rose Leisure, 71, of Lebanon; and Arlene Miller, 70, of Jonestown.

All names were read by Drasher and Diane Gordian, Pennsylvania Department of State, who is the state’s elections representative to Lebanon County. 

Light refreshments were served after the ceremony while guests mingled and musical entertainment was provided by The Neighborly. The St. James Players also performed two musical numbers near the end of the ceremony.

LebTown later asked Drasher about the jump from one or two nominees annually to 102 this year, and the amount of work required to make that happen.

“The reason why it’s usually one or two a year is, it’s so labor intensive just to find anybody. Unless somebody’s nominated by family, which often they are,” Drasher said. “But for us to find them on our own, it’s just looking through individual records, you know, tens, hundreds of thousands of records.”

Asked if his staff had combed through all of the county’s registered active voters – numbering 93,643 as of last week – he replied, “No way, not even close.”