**Election Integrity at Risk in Pennsylvania: Democrats Push to Count Illegal Ballots**
In a shocking display of defiance against the rule of law, Democratic officials in Pennsylvania are openly acknowledging efforts to include disqualified ballots in the recent Senate race recount.
This is raising alarms among Republicans who accuse the party of attempting to manipulate the election results.
Republican Senator-elect Dave McCormick currently holds a lead of 26,000 votes over incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey, yet Casey has refused to concede, insisting every vote must be counted.
The close margin has triggered an automatic recount, but the crux of the issue lies in which votes are considered valid.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had previously ruled that mail-in ballots lacking the necessary signatures or dates should be excluded from the official count.
However, officials in heavily Democratic counties, including Philadelphia and its adjacent areas, are choosing to disregard these court orders.
Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, has been particularly vocal in her defiance, stating, "People violate laws anytime they want."
Her comments mirror the sentiments of many in the Democratic Party who appear willing to circumvent legal precedents in their pursuit of power.
Amidst the uncertainty, estimated counts suggest that fewer than 80,000 provisional ballots remain to be counted across Pennsylvania, representing less than two percent of the total vote.
The outcome of the recount is expected to have minimal impact on the final tally, but that hasn’t stopped Democrats from engaging in increasingly contentious battles over individual votes.
In Montgomery County, discussions over approximately 180 provisional ballots lacking secrecy envelopes consumed over 30 minutes, illuminating the chaotic decision-making processes underway.
Despite the legal clarity regarding these ballots, Democratic board members voted to include some of the contested votes in an effort to avoid disenfranchising voters, a move that many Republicans view as an attempt to sway the election outcome.
Michael Whatley, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, expressed outrage at what he termed "left-wing election interference" and pledged to uphold McCormick’s victory against these apparent attempts at illegality.
"This is the exact kind of left-wing election interference that undermines voter confidence," he asserted.
The Democrats' defense revolves around a belief that clerical errors should not disqualify votes, but critics argue that disregarding established laws only serves to erode public trust in the electoral process.
With the recount process mandated to conclude by November 26, the tension between ensuring election integrity and advancing partisan goals continues to escalate.
This unfolding situation in Pennsylvania underscores critical concerns about election integrity, with Republican leaders vowing to continue fighting against what they see as unprincipled tactics aimed at overturning a legitimate election outcome.
Sources:
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