As you may remember from our December 9, 2025 article, Chester County engaged Fleck Eckert Klein McGarry LLC (FEKM) to investigate the causality of the 2025 Municipal General Election poll book error that excluded independent and 3rd party registered voters from the precinct poll books. The law firm provided its findings to the county on December 19, 2025 in a report which can be seen here. On January 22, 2026, Chester County released its action plan to address the findings of the report.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 7PM, the Chester County Board of Elections will hold a public meeting both in person and via Zoom to discuss the report findings and the county’s action plan.

Below we will address questions/concerns with the report findings and the action plan. Additional new information will also be shared.

Investigators found no nefarious intentions with the production of inaccurate poll books. Two inexperienced employees, one a supervisor, requested the incomplete books from the Department of State. They made a mistake. There were no additional checks of the documents or system warnings that would have prevented the problem. Investigators believe the crux of the problem stemmed from high employee turnover, poor initial and cross-training of employees, and ineffective departmental procedures.

Additionally, they also discovered that it was Director Karen Barsoum who mistakenly originally instructed Judges of Elections to have voters not in the poll books sign their names on a blank page at the back of the book and vote normally. The Department of State and county solicitor informed her that the proper procedure is to use provisional ballots to avoid anyone voting twice.

FEKM also found that the County Commissioners have not been performing their statutory duty of serving as the Registration Commission, which is responsible for maintaining and keeping voter registration records. That role also requires appointing a “chief clerk” of the county for registration purposes, which also has not been done.

Finally, investigators looked at the cause of the Prothonotary position being left off the primary ballot. That was traced directly to an incorrect legal determination from Chester County Solicitor Colleen Frens.

FEKM explains the high employee turnover rate in Voter Services as normal due to the tight deadlines and high work volume. The firm only interviewed those direct personnel involved with the creation of the poll books and the supervision thereof. How can FEKM make that assessment when they didn’t interview previous employees or directors? The department, county, and FEKM seem to be making an assumption about the turnover without seeking facts.

As we discussed in our August 19, 2025 update, the department is considered fully staffed with 23 people. However, to date, 37 people have either been fired or resigned in the last five years since the hiring of Director Karen Barsoum. How many people left the department in the preceding five or ten years? That is a fact that FEKM should have sought. We plan to find out!

Sources tell us that Director Barsoum required standard operating procedures to be written and reviewed within the last four years. Are new employees not provided with these updated procedures? Why is cross-training not practiced, when it was standard practice prior to Barsoum’s tenure? 

Who is ultimately going to be held accountable for the colossal error within Voter Services? As we noted in prior articles, the County Commissioners were warned multiple times about the growing turnover and management issues within the department. However, no action was taken. Responsibility lies with the chairman of the Board of Elections. Commissioner Maxwell should consider resignation from that role.

Based on the FEKM report findings and the new Chief Experience Officer’s input, Chester County developed an Action Plan with four main pillars:

• Technology Recommendations
• Process Improvement Recommendations
• Organizational Recommendations
• Stakeholder Outreach & Engagement Recommendations

The procedural and training suggestions made by FEKM are common sense solutions that should be implemented immediately. It is our understanding that doing so would essentially reestablish processes to those in effect prior to Ms. Barsoum’s hiring. Some items suggested by Chief Experience Officer (CXO) Megan Moser seemed more amorphous and somewhat pandering. For example, “exploring opportunities to improve the independent voter experience in Chester County” seems to cater to certain voters rather than the entire electorate. The county doesn’t need change for change sake. Leaders should be improving processes to make interactions with the county easier for all citizens.

According to sources within Chester County, Solicitor Colleen Frens tendered her resignation at the beginning of January. We are told that she will remain in the position until approximately the end of March while the County Commissioners search for a replacement. Having been individually named in the FEKM report for making an incorrect legal opinion, we can understand her wanting to escape that humiliation. Her track record with the county has not been the best. Ms. Frens increased the staffing in the Solicitor’s Office during her three year tenure. Why? She denied Right to Know requests and then lost in court upon appeal. Why? Outside counsel was routinely hired for various election-related matters. Why? Ms. Frens lacked the legal knowledge and experience to effectively act as the county’s attorney! So, why did the County Commissioners hire her in the first place?

We can only hope that in their search for a new solicitor the Chester County Commissioners put partisanship aside. They should choose someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in legal matters, who has sound judgement, and who has excellent communication skills. If they need any assistance, we’re happy to help!

As the Constitutional Convention ended in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked if the delegates produced a monarchy or a republic. Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

We are trying to keep this republic that we love and hold our representatives accountable to the people. Join us in that mission and share this Update with your contacts!