Pennsylvania Democrats Admit To Counting Illegal Ballots In Senate Race Headed For Recount

The Senate race between Republican Dave McCormick and Democratic incumbent Bob Casey in Pennsylvania has taken a contentious turn as Democrats in two counties admitted to counting illegal mail-in ballots. The tight race, already triggering a recount, has sparked legal challenges and accusations of election law violations.

McCormick, who leads Casey by 29,000 votes according to unofficial results, was projected the winner by the Associated Press. However, with the margin between the two candidates under 0.5%, a statewide recount was automatically triggered. Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced the recount results will be publicly released on Nov. 27.

The controversy centers around a pre-election ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The court ordered that undated or improperly signed mail-in ballots must not be included in official results. Despite this clear directive, election officials in Bucks and Montgomery counties chose to count these ballots, citing concerns about voter disenfranchisement.

Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia openly defied the court’s order, stating, “People violate laws anytime they want. So, for me, if I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention.” Her remarks dismissed the distinction between legal and illegal votes, further fueling Republican outrage.

Montgomery County Democratic board chair Neil Makhija defended the decision to count undated ballots, arguing it was necessary to ensure voters were not disenfranchised. These actions have prompted the Republican National Committee to file four lawsuits challenging the counties’ decisions.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley accused Democrats of attempting to “steal a senate seat” by counting illegal ballots. “Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: Democrats in Pennsylvania are brazenly trying to break the law by attempting to count illegal ballots,” Whatley wrote on X, vowing to fight until McCormick’s victory is secured.

The recount’s outcome, set to cost $1 million, will be closely watched as both parties gear up for legal battles that could impact the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. This case underscores ongoing tensions over mail-in voting and election integrity in key battleground states.