A judge ruled that Bucks County voters will be able to apply for, receive, vote, and return mail-in ballots until the close of business on Saturday, November 1 after the campaign for former President Donald Trump and Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick sued. at districts through long lines and voters who were killed.
The suit, filed in Common Pleas Court in Bucks County, calls for the ballot vote to be offered one more day. On Wednesday, the judge agreed.
The docket of the Common Pleas of Bucks County, Pennsylvania states, “The Defendants (Bucks County Board of Elections) acted to deny voters who sought to cast a ballot and received a ballot before the deadline of 5 p.m. on Oct. 29, in violation of the Pennsylvania Election Code would allow anyone who wishes to apply, receive, vote, and return ballots to appear at the Bureau of Elections office and do so during normal business hours before the close of business on Nov. 1.”
Bucks County election officials requested that the extension be limited to the Doylestown location. They say they can move printers there to serve voters efficiently. They also requested that the daily time frame be from 8 am to 5 pm
Pennsylvania doesn’t have early voting on voting machines like other states – it’s the closest called mail ballot voting on demand.
In the process, voters can request a ballot directly at the district election office. Voters then receive the ballot in a few minutes, fill it out in person and return it all in the same trip.
The last day to vote with a ballot on demand is Tuesday, October 29, the same as the deadline to request ballot papers. A long line formed outside the Bucks County administration building Tuesday.
When CBS News Philadelphia was there, the line wrapped around the block.
Bucks County Commissioner and Chairman of the County Board of Elections Bob Harvie said the line is long because it takes workers 10-12 minutes to process applications for voters in the on-demand process.
“It’s a very cumbersome process. We don’t have limitless resources here,” said Harvie. “We have a fixed number of staff. We have a fixed budget.”
According to a district spokeswoman, the line for on-demand processing was cut around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday. The district continues to accept applications for ballots until 5 p.m. The selection is also available online.
The Pennsylvania Department of State is asking each county to make sure every voter in line by 5 p.m. at least fills out and submits an application for a ballot. The lawsuit states the State Department to voters who will be able to receive ballot sent in addition to applying, mentioning the post in X from the official @PAStateDept account.
“If you are in line at the county election office tonight at 5 p.m. to apply for a ballot, the county should give you the opportunity to do so. Our team continues to work with all counties to ensure every eligible voter who wants to vote by ballot can,” the post said. read.
The post did not say that voters who stayed in line would receive their ballots on the same day, only that they would be allowed to submit applications.
“If you are in line at 5 p.m. for your desired ballot application, you will have the opportunity to submit your application for your ballot,” Bucks County officials told X. this.”
The lawsuit also asks the court to find the issue of voters being denied and unable to receive ballots by 5 p.m. a violation of the Pennsylvania Election Code.
The intention to sue was announced Tuesday night during a Trump rally in Allentown.
Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the campaign plans to sue the county over alleged voter fraud.
“We’re not going to let them deny our votes,” Whatley said. “We are going to fight. I am proud to tell you tonight the Trump-Vance campaign has announced a huge lawsuit against Bucks County to turn away our voters.”
Voters who have a ballot but are unable to submit a ballot should return the completed ballot to the drop box. Commonwealth Secretary Al Schmidt said it was close to the electionbest to send a ballot.
A Bucks County spokeswoman said county election officials are aware that a lawsuit may be filed and have no further comment.
On social media Wednesday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said Republican and Democratic election clerks are working with law enforcement to ensure only eligible voters are registered and able to vote.
“Let’s remember, in 2020, Donald Trump attacked our election continuously,” Shapiro wrote in X. “I was Attorney General at the time and despite his bluster and rhetoric, he went 0-43 in court as he fought to make it harder. to vote and then try to overthrow the votes of Pennsylvanians who are now trying to use the same playbook to stoke chaos, but hear me this: we will again free and fair, safe and secure elections – and the will of the people will be respected.”
On Tuesday, the U.S. Postal Service advised voters to cast ballots no less than a week before county election offices require — in Pennsylvania, by 8 p.m. on Election Day — postmarks not be counted.
If you vote on Election Day, as long as you are in line before the polls close, you are guaranteed a chance to vote.
