Pennsylvania Democrats sue key county over mail ballots

[ancianita]

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

[Otto_Harper]

1. I feel compelled to add, Berks County

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]

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

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]

3. The problem is the timing. The election

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

[ancianita]

12. Yes. But

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]

4. Oh Otto

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]

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

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.

[JustAnotherGen]

10. You might be surprised

[LauraInLA]

6. You can have a designated agent return your ballot for you.

https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/vote/resources/documents-and-forms/Authorize-Designated-Agent-for-Mail-in-or-Absentee-Ballot.pdf

[Otto_Harper]

7. I understand that. Have done that myself in the past, but

this time, I have no one to ask to do such a demanding task. Besides, as of this moment, I still do not have a ballot in hand, nor does my son.

[LauraInLA]

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

[Otto_Harper]

9. Thanks. I greatly appreciate that.

[cadoman]

11. would not hurt to reach out to the county committee

Maybe they can grab a volunteer and arrange transit to a physical location or deliver emergency absentee ballots to your location?

https://www.berks-dems.org/contact

https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/vote/resources/documents-and-forms/PADOS_AuthorizeRepresentativeforEmergencyAbsenteeBallot.pdf

As far as volunteer tasks go this is a lot more satisfying than stuffing envelopes or making cold calls..