Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is siding with the state’s excessive court docket after the justices dominated that defective mail-in ballots can’t be counted amid a contentious recount, delivering a victory to Republican Social gathering officers.
The state Supreme Courtroom reaffirmed its prior choice in a 4–3 ruling Monday that counties can’t rely incorrectly dated or undated ballots. The choice singled out the Boards of Elections in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County, whom they stated “SHALL COMPLY with the prior rulings of this Court in which we have clarified” for mail-in and absentee ballots of 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,” stated Shapiro, a Democrat. “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 stated he would “continue working to protect our democracy and the votes of all eligible Pennsylvanians.”
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks earlier than Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. On Monday, Shapiro sided with the Pennsylvania Supreme Courtroom over its ruling regarding the counting of defective mail-in ballots. (AP Picture/Joe Lamberti)
The excessive court docket initially dominated on Nov. 1 that mail-in ballots with out formally required signatures or dates shouldn’t be counted. Democratic-led election boards, nevertheless — together with in Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Centre County — balked on the ruling and voted to incorporate such ballots within the recount.
“People violate laws any time they want,” Democratic Bucks County commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia stated final week, in accordance with 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 got here amid a slew of lawsuits filed by Republican Social gathering officers within the midst of an aggressive Senate recount effort following the slender victory of GOP candidate David McCormick over three-term Democrat Sen. Bob Casey.
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The Pennsylvania Supreme Courtroom reaffirmed its prior choice in a 4–3 ruling Monday that counties can’t rely incorrectly dated or undated ballots. (AP Picture/Matt Rourke)
McCormick had defeated Casey by some 17,000 ballots within the state, or inside the 0.5% margin of error. The slender victory allowed Casey to qualify for an computerized recount beneath Pennsylvania legislation.
The Republican Nationwide Committee criticized Shapiro for not talking up sooner in protection of the court docket’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.”
Democrat Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick, who defeated Casey by some 17,000 votes within the race for the Senate. (Getty Photos)
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Trump marketing campaign official Chris LaCivita stated Pennsylvania elections officers would face jail time for counting incorrect mail-in ballots.
“They will go to jail,” he wrote Sunday night on X. “Count on it.”
