The Pennsylvania Senate race has taken a contentious turn as Democratic officials in certain blue counties are openly admitting to counting disqualified ballots in defiance of state law and court orders. The Associated Press has declared Republican Sen.-elect Dave McCormick as the winner, holding a 26,000 vote lead over incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. Despite this, Casey has refused to concede, calling for every vote to be counted due to the close margin triggering an automatic recount under Pennsylvania law.
The critical issue at hand is the inclusion of disqualified ballots. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had ruled before the election that mail ballots lacking required signatures or dates should not be counted. However, Democratic officials in Philadelphia and surrounding counties are disregarding this court order.
Democratic officials argue that rejecting votes due to clerical errors violates constitutional rights. Instances such as deliberating over provisional ballots without secrecy envelopes in Montgomery County highlight the ongoing disputes over ballot validity.
Republicans have raised concerns over the defiance of court precedent, accusing Democrats of attempting to count illegal ballots to sway the election outcome. The McCormick campaign and Republican National Committee have filed lawsuits contesting county decisions on undated ballots, vowing to uphold the integrity of the election results.
The recount process, mandated to conclude by November 26, is not expected to significantly alter the outcome of the race. Both McCormick and Casey have been engaged in official duties in Washington, D.C., amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the Pennsylvania Senate race.
As the recount deadline approaches, the battle over ballot validity continues to unfold, with legal challenges and partisan tensions shaping the post-election landscape in Pennsylvania.
