
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party has launched a legal challenge against Erie County, claiming that ballot distribution issues could impact the fairness of the upcoming election. This lawsuit, filed in state court on Wednesday, highlights concerns over thousands of mail ballots that remain undelivered, even though the election is just days away.
According to the Democratic Party’s filing, Erie County has one of the lowest ballot return rates in the state, with only 52% of ballots received back by Monday. Many ballots, they argue, were either delayed or misplaced due to administrative and logistical errors. The party alleges that hundreds of voters received incorrect ballots, while others report they are still waiting for theirs.
Pennsylvania Democrats File Suit Over Ballot Delays in Erie County https://t.co/jEHbLdTxd4
A lawsuit said that many voters had not received their mail-in ballots, and that return rates in the county lagged far behind the state average.
— Sean Graf (@seangraf) October 31, 2024
Further complicating matters, the United States Postal Service has indicated it is attempting to locate 1,800 mail ballots that Erie County’s vendor reported as undelivered. Additionally, local news reports revealed that USPS mistakenly sent hundreds of ballots to the wrong post office last week, potentially adding to the backlog.
The lawsuit seeks a court mandate requiring Erie County to provide a list of voters who had not received their ballots as of Oct. 22. The Democrats also request that these voters be allowed to collect ballots in person until Nov. 4 to ensure they have the opportunity to participate in this pivotal election.
Pennsylvania, known for its swing-state status, is facing increased scrutiny this election season. As mail-in voting remains a popular option for many, the situation in Erie County has raised concerns over the reliability of the process, making this lawsuit a significant development as Election Day approaches.