A temporary Election Review Commission will study the 2020 election process in Butler County.

During their Wednesday meeting, county commissioners approved the formation of the commission, which will begin meeting in early February and convene for no more than five half-day sessions.

A report will be issued at the end of March, according to the commissioners.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said the purpose of the commission is to:

- Review and understand the elections process, which will be presented by Aaron Sheasley, the county bureau of elections director.

- Identify the strengths and weaknesses in the bureau's processes and in the application of Act 77, a state act that permits any Pennsylvanian to vote by mail as well as the directives from the Pennsylvania Department of State in the election.

- Issue a report with recommendations that will be available to the public, elected officials, state associations and the county board of elections.

The commission will be composed of three citizens who have experience as a judge of elections in rural, urban and suburban precincts, two representatives each from the county Democratic and Republican parties, one from an independent or unaffiliated political party, an elections bureau employee with mail-in ballot experience, an elections bureau employee with in-person voting experience and the county Board of Elections members.

“It's important for the group to walk through the process to truly understand some of the issues and challenges that were faced,” Osche said.

She said the elections directors in all 67 counties were put in a tough spot in November because of changing directives resulting from state Supreme Court decisions, alternating guidance from the Department of State in Harrisburg, the advent of no-excuse mail-in voting and early in-person voting at the county government center, thousands of calls to the elections bureau during election season, problems finding enough poll workers and other issues.“The pandemic played a big role in this, but we want to make sure we have solid support going forward,” Osche said of finding poll workers.Commissioner Kevin Boozel said one reason he approved the new commission is that the county commissioners are charged with overseeing each election.Commissioner Kim Geyer said she wants public trust in the elections process to be restored because many people wondered after the election whether their vote would be counted.“We have an obligation to re-examine our process,” she said.Wil White, county solicitor, pointed out that Butler is one of 53 counties that will participate in a state audit that will review the vote counts.Last year, Butler County was one of just five Pennsylvania counties to participate in the audit.The commissioners are expected to announce the members of the new Elections Review Commission at their next meeting on Feb. 3.