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ancianita

(38,580 posts) Wed Oct 30, 2024, 06:34 PM Oct 30

Pennsylvania Democrats sue key county over mail ballots

Source: Politico

ZACH MONTELLARO
10/30/2024, 5:54PM ET

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party has sued a key county over its handling of mail ballots.

The case, filed in state court on Wednesday, alleges that Erie County, in the northwestern corner of the state, has sent wrong ballots to a few hundred voters and that thousands of people — and potentially many more — have not yet received their ballots.

Local media in Erie reported that roughly 300 voters received incorrect ballots and 750 ballots had been delayed by the Postal Service.

The suit notes that only 52 percent of the county’s mail ballots had been returned as of Monday, which is “among the lowest” in the state and 15 points below the statewide average. The suit also alleges that the Postal Service has no record of receiving 1,800 mail ballots from the county’s mail vendor “and is in the process of trying to locate these ballots.”

The party is asking the court to order county officials to release the name of voters they believe have not received mail ballots “on or after Oct. 22” and allow voters who requested mail ballots to receive their ballots in person at the board of elections office through Monday — and immediately return them in the same trip.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/10/30/2024-elections-live-coverage-updates-analysis/erie-county-pennsylvania-mail-ballot-lawsuit-00186392

12 replies

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Pennsylvania Democrats sue key county over mail ballots (Original Post) ancianita Oct 30 OP

I feel compelled to add, Berks County Otto_Harper Oct 30 #1

This is a lawsuit. States schedule the mailing of ballots. Only in a battleground would mail in ballots get F'd up. ancianita Oct 30 #2

The problem is the timing. The election MotownPgh Oct 30 #3

Yes. But ancianita Oct 31 #12

Oh Otto JustAnotherGen Oct 30 #4

I'm afraid I'm incapable of travel, at the current moment Otto_Harper Oct 30 #5

You might be surprised JustAnotherGen Oct 31 #10

You can have a designated agent return your ballot for you. LauraInLA Oct 30 #6

I understand that. Have done that myself in the past, but Otto_Harper Oct 30 #7

I'm so sorry to hear all this! I will keep you all in my thoughts and hope everything works out. LauraInLA Oct 30 #8

Thanks. I greatly appreciate that. Otto_Harper Oct 30 #9

would not hurt to reach out to the county committee cadoman Oct 31 #11

Otto_Harper

(711 posts)

1. I feel compelled to add, Berks County

Reply to ancianita (Original post)

Wed Oct 30, 2024, 06:46 PM

Oct 30

STILL,right now, today, this minute, have not received a ballot. They are slow walking the thing. Have been for weeks.
As an elderly shut-in, even if I received one tomorrow, I have no way to do anything but put it out in the rural mail box.

ancianita

(38,580 posts)

2. This is a lawsuit. States schedule the mailing of ballots. Only in a battleground would mail in ballots get F'd up.

Reply to Otto_Harper (Reply #1)

Wed Oct 30, 2024, 06:52 PM

Oct 30

The chain of custody of mail in ballots begins with every state election commission.
Every mail in ballot is bar coded for tracking.
When the state election commission documents the lists of the mail in ballots and confirms that they were sent to voters by mail, the chain of custody is on the US Postal Service.

Citizens can prove they've applied for mail in ballots.
Mail in ballots are to go out a month before national elections, and can be mailed in as soon as received.

Tampering, losing, misplacing not knowing what happens to mail is penalized by four federal laws.

MotownPgh

(359 posts)

3. The problem is the timing. The election

Reply to ancianita (Reply #2)

Wed Oct 30, 2024, 07:07 PM

Oct 30

will not be pushed back and these voters lose their right to vote.

ancianita

(38,580 posts)

12. Yes. But

Reply to MotownPgh (Reply #3)

Thu Oct 31, 2024, 09:52 AM

Oct 31

misplaced or 'lost' mail will call for immediate investigating/indictments and convictions of those in the USPS chain of custody. It will get 'sorted,' and can be done by the 4th Wed of December.

One hopes that
a) the USPS will not be instrumental in changing state certifications and electoral votes, and
b) DeJoy gets fired over lost ballots. Finally.

Designated Federal and State officials must receive the paired Certificates no later than the fourth Wednesday in December. As the new Congress assembles, the Archivist transmits sets of Certificates to Congress, as requested. This generally happens when the Senate does not receive its set of Certificates on time.

https://www.archives.gov/files/electoral-college/state-officials/state-officials-key-dates.pdf

JustAnotherGen

(33,575 posts)

4. Oh Otto

Reply to Otto_Harper (Reply #1)

Wed Oct 30, 2024, 07:59 PM

Oct 30

I'm so sorry. I'm far out in NJ - but is there anything we can do to help you get in touch with your Democratic Committee?

If someone kind could get you there - could you complete a provisional ballot?

I'm in rural NJ - but in 2008 I gave rides on election day in Allentown. Since I've been on Committee - I've take elderly, single parents, disabled people, etc etc Democratics to the polling place.

Some Democratic member can help.

Otto_Harper

(711 posts)

5. I'm afraid I'm incapable of travel, at the current moment

Reply to JustAnotherGen (Reply #4)

Wed Oct 30, 2024, 08:03 PM

Oct 30

If/when a ballot arrives, a trip to the county drop box is like an hour or so round trip. I could never do it, and I could never ask anyone to undertake such a trip on my behalf.