Pennsylvania election officials are in hot water…
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) sided with the state’s Supreme Court after justices sided with Republican officials that faulty mail-in ballots can’t be counted.
The state Supreme Court reaffirmed its previous decision that counties cannot count incorrectly dated or undated ballots. The 4-3 ruling on Monday singled out the Boards of Elections in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County, whom they said “SHALL COMPLY with the prior rulings of this Court in which we have clarified” for mail-in and absentee ballots in their Nov. 1 ruling.
“Any insinuation that our laws can be ignored or do not matter is irresponsible and does damage to faith in our electoral process,” said Shapiro. “The rule of law matters in Pennsylvania. … It is critical for counties in both parties to respect it with both their rhetoric and their actions.”
As governor, Shapiro said he would “continue working to protect our democracy and the votes of all eligible Pennsylvanians.”
“People violate laws any time they want,” Democratic Bucks County commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia said last week, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “So, for me, if I violate this law it’s because I want a court to pay attention. There’s nothing more important than counting votes.”
Monday’s ruling came amid a number of lawsuits filed by Republican Party officials in the midst of a Senate recount following the narrow victory of GOP candidate David McCormick over three-term Democrat Sen. Bob Casey. (RELATED: Republicans Seek Criminal Prosecution For Pennsylvania Officials Defying Election Law)
“The fact that the margin is large enough that it will not be overturned does not take away from the fact that these are improper actions that are being taken by the Bob Casey campaign, by his attorneys, and by these officials,” Republican National Committee Chair (RNC) Michael Whatley said. He added that the RNC would continue to fight the inclusion of these ballots in court, regardless of the final outcome of the race.
The Republican National Committee criticized Shapiro for not speaking up sooner in defense of the court’s actions.
“Heartening to see. Once Democrats came to the conclusion that even ignoring the Pennsylvania Supreme Court can’t scrape up enough ballots to win…,” RNC Chair Michael Whatley wrote on X. “Governor Shapiro suddenly discovers that he stands with the rule of law. Better late than never.”
Trump campaign official Chris LaCivita said Pennsylvania elections officials would face jail time for counting incorrect mail-in ballots.
“They will go to jail,” he wrote Sunday evening on X. “Count on it.”
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Recounts or Democrat recounts?
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That is rich…….sadly, the D’rats are gonna try to cheat regardless of any PA Supreme Court ruling……..and they will.
Some of the most crooked Pols in the country are right there in & around Philfy-delphia!
My God I would expect the governor to agree with the court!!!! Why would the election people ever count ILLEGAL votes?????? Those scumbags should be jailed!!!!!!!!!!!
Easy fix for future voting. NO more mail-in-ballots in person voting with picture ID & LEGAL citizens only.