Democratic Official Apologizes For Counting Faulty Ballots In Pennsylvania

A voter, left, carries her ballot to the counting machine after voting at a polling station Tuesday Nov. 7, 2023, in Richmond, Va.

A Democratic election official in Pennsylvania, Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, issued a public apology for her controversial remarks justifying the counting of approximately 600 faulty ballots in defiance of state Supreme Court rulings. At a county meeting, Ellis-Marseglia expressed regret for her previous statement that 'precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country,' acknowledging that her emotions had clouded her judgment.

Ellis-Marseglia faced backlash, including death threats and expletive-laden criticism, following her comments. The contentious issue arose amidst a recount in the state's US Senate race between Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick.

Despite objections from the lone GOP commissioner and the county's attorney, Ellis-Marseglia and another Democratic commissioner voted to count misdated mail ballots and unsigned provisional ballots. They argued that they were trying to prevent voter disenfranchisement and believed the matter would be resolved in court.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court intervened, ordering counties to adhere to its previous rulings regarding the faulty ballots. The court criticized officials for undermining the rule of law and emphasized the importance of upholding electoral processes.

Backlash included death threats and criticism over controversial remarks.

Democratic official apologized for justifying counting faulty ballots.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court intervened, ordering adherence to its rulings.

Republican officials in battleground states faced scrutiny during the election season over concerns of potential violations of election laws. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned any suggestion that laws could be disregarded, emphasizing the need to maintain faith in the electoral system.

Patricia Poprik, chair of the Bucks County Republican Party, expressed disappointment in the board's actions, stating that the county's election process had become a source of embarrassment. Poprik, who had previously supported the election process, now questioned the integrity of the county's electoral procedures.

The incident underscores the challenges and controversies surrounding election administration, highlighting the importance of upholding legal standards and ensuring transparency in the electoral process.