The Democratic chair of a key Pennsylvania county’s elections board apologized on Wednesday for saying “precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore” when she voted to depend tons of of poor mail and provisional ballots.
“I wanted to start by apologizing for the upset and confusion that I have caused the citizens of Bucks County and the hardworking employees of this county and my family and those who share my last name,” Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia mentioned at a Wednesday assembly.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I care a lot about elections and I have been involved in them all my life, virtually. And like all of you and all Americans, I want this election and every election to be fair, to be honest, to be just and one we can have confidence in,” she continued.
Ellis-Marseglia gained nationwide consideration when she voted final week to depend tons of of undated and misdated mail ballots in addition to provisional ballots with errors.
“I believe everyone knows that precedent by a courtroom doesn’t matter anymore on this nation and other people violate legal guidelines any time they need. So for me, if I violate this regulation, it’s as a result of I need a courtroom to concentrate to it,” Ellis-Marseglia mentioned.
The remark sparked widespread criticism, provided that state elections regulation prohibits counting ballots that fail to fulfill the technical necessities. Voting rights teams and Democrats have mounted varied challenges, however the Pennsylvania Supreme Court docket earlier than the election dominated that the date requirement should be enforced this cycle.
On Monday, the courtroom reiterated its place that officers can’t flout provisions of the elections code, with a number of justices rebuking Ellis-Marseglia and different officers for defying the courtroom.
At situation are roughly 600 ballots in Bucks County in addition to tons of of others in locations like Philadelphia and Montgomery counties. Because the controversy gained steam, Bucks County officers reported receiving threats.
The dispute has gotten consideration notably as Pennsylvania’s Senate race heads to an automated recount.
Determination Desk HQ, The Hill’s companion, has projected Republican Dave McCormick because the winner. However incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who trails by roughly 16,000 votes, has not but conceded.
Each campaigns are persevering with to battle in state trial courts over the validity of varied batches of ballots.
