Pennsylvania Democrats Accused Of Violating Election Law In Senate Race Recount

The Pennsylvania Senate race between Republican Dave McCormick and Democratic incumbent Bob Casey has sparked controversy after Democratic officials in Bucks and Montgomery counties admitted to counting illegal mail-in ballots. McCormick leads Casey by 29,000 votes, but the tight margin has triggered a mandatory recount under state law.

Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt confirmed the recount results, expected to cost $1 million, will be released on Nov. 27. The recount was initiated because the vote margin between McCormick and Casey fell below the 0.5% threshold required for automatic recounts.

The dispute centers on a state Supreme Court ruling before the election, which ordered that undated or improperly signed mail-in ballots should not be included in the official count. Despite this ruling, Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia admitted to counting such ballots, stating, “If I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention.”

In Montgomery County, Democratic board chair Neil Makhija similarly defended the decision to count disputed ballots, claiming it was necessary to avoid voter disenfranchisement. These actions have drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, who argue the rule of law must be upheld to ensure election integrity.

The Republican National Committee has filed four lawsuits against the counties, accusing Democrats of attempting to influence the election illegally. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley condemned the actions, stating, “Democrats in Pennsylvania are brazenly trying to break the law by attempting to count illegal ballots.”

This high-stakes battle is about more than just one Senate seat. It highlights ongoing tensions over mail-in voting and the enforcement of election rules. The outcome of the recount could have significant implications for Pennsylvania’s election process and the broader national debate over ballot integrity.

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