Democratic officials in blue counties in Pennsylvania are openly admitting to counting disqualified ballots in defiance of state law and court orders in the contested Senate race between Republican Sen.-elect Dave McCormick and incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. Despite McCormick holding a 26,000 vote lead, Casey has refused to concede, triggering an automatic recount due to the close margin. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had ruled before the election that certain mail ballots lacking signatures or dates should not be included in results, but Democratic officials are disregarding this ruling.
Officials estimate that fewer than 80,000 provisional ballots are left to be counted, but ongoing disputes are arising over whether certain ballots should be included. Democrats argue that rejecting votes due to clerical errors violates constitutional rights, while Republicans insist that laws must be upheld. The open defiance of court orders has raised concerns about voter confidence and election interference.
The McCormick campaign and Republican National Committee have filed lawsuits to contest the inclusion of undated mail ballots in the final count, while Democrats argue that the counties should not be interfered with as legal challenges proceed. The recount must be finished by November 26, and while officials do not expect the outcome to change significantly, the ongoing legal battles highlight the contentious nature of the race. Both candidates have been in Washington, D.C., this week as the recount unfolds.
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