Missing Mail-In Ballots Spark Voter Anger in Crucial Pennsylvania County
In Erie County, Pennsylvania, voter dissatisfaction is growing due to recent voting mishaps. Over 300 voters received both their own mail-in ballots and those of others, prompting political analysts to express concern about electoral integrity in a critical swing area. Despite the sizable line outside the county’s Board of Elections office, where residents sought answers and ballots, officials downplayed the situation. Many voters reported delays in receiving their mail-in ballots, with some waiting up to four hours for assistance. Erie County is known for its historical trend of voting for winning candidates, making the upcoming election significantly important. Although the county’s Clerk attempted to provide solutions, including provisional ballots for those without their mail-in ballots, frustration remained high among voters. The issue arose from a printer’s software glitch that led to ballots being placed in the wrong envelopes. the mishaps contribute to heightened voter anxiety in this pivotal electoral region.
Voter anger is rising in Pennsylvania’s Erie County after the second mishap in this voting season led to some residents not getting ballots they requested.
Earlier this month, nearly 300 Erie County voters were sent their own mail-in ballot and another voter’s ballot, as well, according to Go Erie.
That led Joe Morris, political science department chair at Mercyhurst University, to say this was a bad place for a mistake to take place, according to Your Erie.
“To have a problem in Pennsylvania is bad. To have a problem in Pennsylvania’s swing-iest swing county is absolutely horrible,” he said.
Board of Elections chairman Andre Horton, a Democratic member of Erie County Council, downplayed the gaffe by saying, “There’s really nothing to see here,” Go Erie reported.
But there was something to see Monday outside of the Erie County Board of Elections office as residents who had requested to be sent mail-in ballots lined up to get some answers and cast their ballots, according to Your Erie.
“I ordered a mail-in ballot probably a month ago, and they sent me an two weeks ago, saying that they mailed it, and if I hadn’t gotten it yet, I should contact my local election office, and so I did that, and they said it’s on the way, but I never got it,” said Jessamine Saxton, an Erie County resident.
The line seeking ballots and answers was so long some people waited for four hours, Your Erie reported.
Erie County “is a bellwether area in a bellwether state,” said Thomas J. Baldino, an emeritus professor of political science at Wilkes University, according to U.S. News and World Report. “The winning candidate will want to capture it for morale purposes and hope that it’s called early on election night.”
The county has a trend of voting for winners, which makes it a major prize as the campaigns of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris try to squeeze every possible vote that they can in Pennsylvania.
Residents are aware that each vote has an outsize importance, which is what led some to stand in line Monday.
People in Erie, Pennsylvania have been waiting in line almost 5 hours to get their early ballots in. The Clerk tells us many never received their mail in ballots so have to come in person.
Because it’s in the Court House people can’t have their phones on them. pic.twitter.com/m3M836CBJV
— Annelise Nielsen (@annelisenews) October 28, 2024
“Here in Erie, it’s a swing county, and this county can come down to one vote. This county is very split,” voter Logan Reynolds said, according to Your Erie
“I mean, I might complain about standing here, but I’m here, and I’m staying until I get my vote right on that system and pass it right on through,” voter Monique Bean said.
County officials said there is a workaround for those who did not get the ballots they requested.
“If you haven’t received your mail-in ballot, you can still go to the polls and vote provisionally. That vote is going to be reviewed, and we’re going to make sure that you haven’t already sent in a mail ballot, but we take those provisional ballots very seriously as we always do in Erie County. We’re going to open those just as we do with every ballot. We’re going to verify those and make sure your vote counts,” Erie County Clerk Karen Chillcott said.
“We’re working collaboratively with the Department of State, the USPS, our mail vendor to try to get some answers, and unfortunately, I just can’t apologize enough, even though this is not our fault that this has happened, we feel terrible that the voters are in this situation, and we want to do everything we can to make that right,” Chillcott said.
Chillcott had also said the county was not responsible for the mix-up in sending voters two ballots when they wanted one.
The printer the county used had a software glitch that put ballots in incorrect envelopes, she said, according to Go Erie.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
