With beneath every week to go till Election Day, former President Donald Trump and his allies are making a number of allegations of fraud or misconduct round battleground Pennsylvania — and whereas some remoted points have emerged, election officers are pushing again on any suggestion that there are deliberate efforts underway to suppress the vote.
On Tuesday, Trump escalated these claims, baselessly accusing the state in a social media submit of “dishonest, and getting caught, at giant scale ranges.”
Here’s a deeper take a look at some claims.
Girl arrested in Delaware County?
Late Monday night, the Trump marketing campaign despatched out an electronic mail blast claiming {that a} voter in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was “arrested for encouraging folks to remain in line and vote” after election officers allegedly advised voters to depart and thus had been “actively suppressing” their voting rights. Republican Nationwide Committee Chairman Michael Whatley additionally shared a video of the incident on social media, claiming it was a “supporter of President Trump” who was eliminated.
In an announcement, Delaware County pushed again on that declare and applauded election officers on the bottom, saying in an announcement that a number of eyewitnesses characterised the girl as being “disruptive, belligerent, and trying to affect voters ready in line.”
That conduct, the assertion mentioned, led to a number of complaints, and the Delaware County Park Police offering safety on the location responded.
In an up to date assertion on Wednesday, county officers mentioned the girl “didn’t get in line for any service,” remained within the foyer for practically two hours, and “approached numerous people,” prompting complaints. Park Police then “offered her with verbal steerage on acceptable conduct and allowed her to stay within the foyer,” the assertion mentioned, after which she was requested to depart after further complaints, however “refused.”
The county mentioned the matter “stays an energetic felony investigation.”
“We take voting rights very severely in Delaware County,” mentioned Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “Voters have a proper to take part in our democracy with out being harassed or intimidated, and we applaud our Park Police for calming the disturbance and permitting voting to proceed with out disruption.”
The girl later appeared in a video on social media with Whatley, saying, “I attempted to get the vote out” however was arrested “for exercising my First Modification proper.”
A spokesperson for the county mentioned the girl was “briefly detained, and was issued a quotation for disorderly conduct.”
Registration fraud in Lancaster and York counties?
On social media, Trump has personally raised voter fraud claims in Lancaster County and York County.
The previous president is appropriate in a way — officers in Lancaster County mentioned they stopped what could have been potential voter registration fraud. However on Reality Social, Trump claimed Lancaster County was “caught” with faux ballots and types — a declare that distorts an occasion that officers in Pennsylvania are selling for example of their safety techniques working correctly.
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a marketing campaign rally on the PPL Middle in Allentown, Pa., on Oct. 29, 2024.
Angela Weiss/AFP by way of Getty Photos
ABC Information beforehand reported that officers in Lancaster County mentioned they stopped potential incidents of voter registration fraud simply weeks earlier than the presidential election. The Lancaster County Board of Elections mentioned in an announcement that roughly 2,500 suspected fraudulent voter registration purposes had been dropped off on the election workplace in two batches across the deadline to register. The board mentioned “issues had been raised” in the course of the regular overview course of and regulation enforcement was alerted.
Notably, the board mentioned in its assertion that the fraud was “recognized and contained,” and is lauding this incident as one which reveals that the election “system is safe.”
“Our system labored,” the board declared. “We’ll proceed to function with the very best ranges of veracity, integrity, and transparency in order that Lancaster County voters will be assured in our election.”
Trump in his submit additionally mentioned York County additionally acquired “THOUSANDS” of probably fraudulent registrations and poll purposes.
In an announcement, although, York County officers mentioned they had been nonetheless investigating. The York County Commissioner confirmed that they had acquired a “giant supply” with registration types and mail-in poll purposes, and that they’re within the strategy of their legality.
If fraud is recognized, the assertion mentioned, they’d alert the authorities.
“We’re dedicated to making sure the integrity, security and safety of our elections,” mentioned York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler within the assertion.
Individuals faraway from the road in Bucks County?
A Pennsylvania decide on Wednesday swiftly granted a request from the Trump marketing campaign and ordered a three-day extension to Bucks County’s in-person mail-in-ballot deadline — extending it to the tip of the day on Friday, Nov. 1.
The marketing campaign had solely requested for a one-day extension. The deadline was Tuesday at 5 p.m.
In his one-page order, Choose Jeffrey Trauger wrote that the county violated Pennsylvania Election Code after “turning away voters who sought to use for a mail-in poll and obtain one in particular person earlier than the deadline.”
He ordered the county to permit anybody who needs to “apply for, obtain, vote, and return a mail-in poll” earlier than the shut of enterprise on Friday.
The ruling was a win for the RNC and the Trump marketing campaign, which filed a lawsuit filed towards the Bucks County Board of Elections and others, in search of a one-day extension to the mail-in poll request deadline by claiming that voters had been “turned away, and compelled by safety to depart” whereas trying to use in particular person for a mail-in poll.
The go well with included signed declarations from three people who declare they had been turned away Tuesday afternoon.
“In Bucks County, we consider strongly in voter enfranchisement,” county officers mentioned in an announcement following the ruling. “In accordance with in the present day’s court docket ruling, we’re happy to have the ability to provide further days for many who are nonetheless in search of to vote on-demand.”
A number of Trump allies posted a video Tuesday afternoon that they mentioned reveals regulation enforcement shutting down the road at a polling place in Bucks County earlier than 3 p.m., despite the fact that the road was imagined to be open till 5 p.m.
The viral social media posts — racking up tons of of hundreds of views — got here after a number of native studies documented lengthy traces and officers chopping off traces in Bucks County, resulting in some frustration from voters and distinguished Republicans alike.
In an announcement, on Tuesday, the county officers pushed again on any suggestion that what occurred in Bucks County quantities to intentional voter suppression, as Trump’s allies claimed, saying, “Opposite to what’s being depicted on social media, in case you are in line by 5 p.m. for an on-demand mail-in poll utility, you’ll have the chance to submit your utility for a mail-in poll.”
“That poll will then be mailed to the voter or will be picked up by the voter later this week,” the assertion mentioned.
The county acknowledged that there was certainly some “miscommunication” from officers on-site. These in line making use of for an on-demand poll had been “briefly advised they may not be accommodated,” the county mentioned, however added that these people had been in the end allowed to submit their purposes.
In a submit on X, the Secretary of State’s workplace echoed that sentiment, asking for voters to “be affected person.”
“Earlier in the present day, we spoke with Bucks County election officers who assured us that each registered voter who goes to their county election workplace by 5 p.m. in the present day might be offered a chance to use for his or her mail poll,” the submit mentioned. “Please be affected person with all county election workplace workers as they work laborious to make sure each registered voter is ready to vote on this election.”
General, the spokesperson for Bucks County mentioned, these points replicate the fact and confusion surrounding so-called “early voting” within the state: not like another states, Pennsylvania doesn’t have a cut-and-dry “early voting” period– as an alternative, it has on-demand in-person voting, throughout which voters can go to a polling place, request a poll, fill it out, and return it on the spot.
“The Board of Elections workplace is just not a polling place. On-demand in-person mail-in ballots are usually not early voting. This service is obtainable as a courtesy to voters as a result of we’ve got the tools to take action,” county spokesperson James O’Malley advised the Pennsylvania Star.
“We’re comfortable to accommodate as many citizens as we are able to, however the truth stays that this isn’t a polling place and our workers must be allowed time to meet their different duties in furtherance of finishing up the election,” O’Malley mentioned.
