PENNSYLVANIA – Bob Casey for Senate released the following statement on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas ruling against David McCormick’s efforts to throw out ballots from eligible Philadelphia voters. The court’s ruling will ensure 996 Pennsylvanians have their votes counted.
Statement from Tiernan Donohue, campaign manager for Bob Casey for Senate:
“Today was a victory for democracy and Pennsylvania as the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas rejected McCormick’s attempt to throw out 996 ballots cast by eligible voters. The Casey campaign will continue to fight to ensure Pennsylvanians’ voices are heard and eligible voters can participate in our democracy.”
Key Facts on McCormick’s Efforts to Disenfranchise Pennsylvania Voters:
- Republicans are filing lawsuits to throw out provisional ballots over minor issues that do not impact a ballot’s validity or a voter’s eligibility. These include:
- Election Worker Signature: Provisional ballots where the voter did everything right and the only error is that an election worker made a mistake and did not sign the ballot envelope. McCormick is suing to throw out these ballots in Bucks, Chester, Erie, Lackawanna, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia.
- Single Voter Signature: Provisional ballots where the voter signed the envelope once, but not a second time. Pennsylvania’s provisional ballot envelope asks a voter to sign twice which is a duplicative and unnecessary requirement. McCormick is suing to throw these ballots out in Bucks, Monroe, Montgomery, and Northampton County.
- Did Not Check Reason: Provisional ballots where the election official did not check the reason the provisional ballot was cast. This is a technical requirement that in no way changes the voter’s eligibility. McCormick is suing to throw these ballots out in Philadelphia County.
- While the McCormick campaign sues to silence Pennsylvanians, the Casey campaign is actively fighting to make sure every legal ballot is counted.