The Trump campaign and other Republicans have filed a lawsuit against the Bucks County Board of Elections, seeking one additional day of 'on-demand' mail voting. This legal action comes after allegations that voters were turned away when attempting to cast ballots using this method on the last day it was available.
The lawsuit was prompted by an incident in Delaware County, where a Trump supporter was removed from an elections office during a dispute over mail-in ballots. Republicans have labeled this as 'voter suppression,' while county officials maintain that the individual was removed due to disruptive behavior.
Attorney Linda Kerns, representing the RNC and Trump's campaign, reported receiving numerous complaints from voters, including those in Bucks County, regarding issues with requesting mail-in ballots in person. Claims include election officials instructing voters to leave and come back on Election Day instead of allowing them to request a mail-in ballot on the spot.
The lawsuit includes declarations from three individuals who state they were turned away at Bucks County election sites despite arriving before the 5 p.m. deadline. Bucks County officials have declined to comment on the legal action.
Pennsylvania does not offer early in-person voting but allows voters to apply for and receive mail ballots in person at county election offices. The deadline for this process was 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The lawsuit alleges that Bucks County officials disregarded state guidance by turning away voters who were in line before the deadline.
The 'on-demand' mail ballot option enables voters to apply for and receive mail ballots in one transaction at an election site. While not a substitute for early in-person voting, political campaigns have encouraged its use despite the recent legal challenges.
