The Pennsylvania Democratic Party filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Erie County, alleging that widespread delays in mail ballot delivery could hinder voter turnout in this key swing area. Erie County, located in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania, has reportedly been experiencing significant delays and errors in its mail-in voting system.
According to the lawsuit, only 52% of ballots in Erie County had been returned by Monday, far below both state and national averages. This low return rate has been linked to various issues, including the incorrect distribution of ballots to some voters and long delays in delivery. The Democrats claim these mishaps could affect the outcome in this closely watched county.
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
Reports indicate that the United States Postal Service is currently searching for 1,800 mail ballots that Erie County’s vendor said were never received. Local news outlets also reported that hundreds of ballots were mistakenly rerouted to the wrong post office last week, adding to voter confusion.
The lawsuit requests that the court order Erie County to release a list of voters who hadn’t received their ballots by Oct. 22. Additionally, the Democrats seek permission for these voters to collect their ballots in person through Nov. 4, just ahead of Election Day.
As Pennsylvania remains a battleground state, concerns over mail-in voting reliability have taken center stage. This lawsuit highlights the importance of secure and timely voting methods, especially in critical swing regions like Erie County.
