Republicans have asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to intervene in the state’s Senate race, alleging that several counties are violating the court’s prior ruling by counting undated mail-in ballots.
“Democrats in Pennsylvania are brazenly trying to break the law by attempting to count illegal ballots,” Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley said in a post on X on Nov. 15.
“They are doing this because they want to steal a senate seat from @DaveMcCormickPA.”
Both Decision Desk HQ and The Associated Press have called the race for Republican Dave McCormick, who ran against long-term incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.).
However, because McCormick’s lead fell within a 0.5 percent margin, state law required a recount.
The state Supreme Court on Nov. 1 rejected an appeals court ruling that not counting undated ballots in a special election violated the state constitution.
Four counties—Bucks, Centre, Philadelphia, and Montgomery—have decided to nevertheless count the undated ballots, according to multiple outlets.
On Nov. 14, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania and the Republican National Committee asked the state Supreme Court to issue an order reaffirming that mail-in ballots must be dated for election boards to count them.
The lawsuit named all 67 counties in the state.
“Unfortunately, some county boards still have not gotten the message,” Republicans said in their petition for relief.
“Instead, they have voted to change election rules a week after the Nov. 5, 2024, Election Day and to count mail ballots that do not comply with the date requirement.
“These decisions violate both the Court’s recent orders and its unbroken line of precedent upholding mandatory application of the date requirement.”
Neil Makhija, a Democrat Montgomery County Commissioner, has defended counting the undated ballots while noting McCormick’s previous support for the practice.
“Under the [Pennsylvania] constitution’s free and equal elections clause, I believe every ballot cast by an eligible voter must be counted—including undated mail-ins,” he said in a post on Nov. 12.
He also pointed to the appeals court decision, stating that the state Supreme Court had “punted on the merits.”
The state Supreme Court decision on Nov. 1 came in response to Republicans’ request for emergency relief.
It halted the appeals court decision, which applied to a special election, while clarifying that it didn’t apply to the general election on Nov. 5.
“This stay is entered without prejudice to the filing and due consideration on the merits of any petition for allowance of appeal that the parties may file or the disposition of an appeal should this Court grant such petition,” the per curiam order read.
Billionaire Elon Musk, who successfully fought off a preelection lawsuit in Philadelphia, weighed in by saying on X that it was “unreal” how some were “trying to count illegal ballots in Pennsylvania.”
He linked to a video of Democrat Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia stating, “We all know precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country.”
“If I violate this law, it’s because I want the court to pay attention,” she added. “There is nothing more important than counting votes.”
According to local media, a Republican attorney raised the recent state Supreme Court decision while a Democrat attorney said the court’s recent rulings had not considered a due process argument about election workers disenfranchising voters through mistakes.
Republicans are projected to win 53 seats in the U.S. Senate—just enough to secure a slight majority as the chamber prepares to confirm President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for various positions within the executive branch.
So far, at least two Republican senators have cast doubt on Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) succeeding as Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Justice.
The Associated Press reported that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he thought Gaetz had “a lot of work to do to get 50 [votes],” while Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she didn’t “see him as a serious candidate.”
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who was elected as the next senate majority leader, has floated the prospect of recess appointments if Democrats were uncooperative.
“They are doing this because they want to steal a senate seat from @DaveMcCormickPA.”
As they did in 2020
IF the law already Says “DO NOT COUNT If X+Y+Z isn’t done” THEN There shouldn’t eve need to be a lawsuit, to PREVENT VOTES THAT DO NOT COMPLY With that law, from being counted..
BUT SINCE when have dems let the LAW stand in their way!
If people are too stupid to fill out, date, and sign a simple mail-in ballot, why would you want to allow the collectives of the socially stupid to decide the outcome of an election? It’s like issuing drivers licenses to people who get into accidents while driving during the driving part of the license application, then stating you were NOT a US citizen on the application, and later attempting to vote. This is just another attempt to lead the American democracy down the road to an American Idiocracy which is rule by the stupid and corrupt, not the honest informed and competent. After 4 years of Biden, THE PEOPLE have had enough of the lawless inept and the stupid. Just follow the law and do the right thing, or first have the representatives of THE PEOPLE change the current law if the right thing proves itself to be wrong or unworkable. Unelected media apparatchiks with an agenda to keep us divided and at each other;s throats need to stand down and stay away.
The lies, cons, deceptions, dishonesty of this treasonous Democrat Party cabal know no bounds. This traitorest Democrat Party and its “useful idiot” supporters will do or say Anything to be able to dictate control over our country, then retain it by any means available. No matter the costs to the people, the government, or the nation.
Unlike their almost ABSOLUTE POWER that almost corrupted America Absolutely, Pray that now that WE THE PEOPLE use our current Absolute power of Executive, Both Legislative Branches AND the Supreme Court to prove wisely, to be worty of the trust and the POWER placed into the hands of our newly elected representatives. Consrvative corruption of our own needs to be weeded out and a stern message sent to our governing agents and the American people that this time by our own actions we deserve to retain in perpetuity that reign of government that serves the people, by not being served by THE PEOPLE. Term limits could be a good start. Stopping laundered money and government employee enrichments under the table while in office at the taxpayers expense ,could be the right ending.
Maybe its not stupidity, but LAZINESS!
WHY IS IT if you or I, flat out said “To hell with what a judge says, i am doing what i want anyway”, WE GET ARRESTED FOr contempt of court, at a BARE MINIMUM.
BUT IF democrats flat out do so, AND SAY IT RIGHT IN THE FACE of a camera crew, NONE OF THEM get arrested!?