PA Supreme Court Rules Against Democrat-Led Recount Efforts

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that county election boards must comply with previous rulings that state that counties cannot count undated or misdated mail-in ballots.

“The Court hereby ASSUMES its King’s Bench authority over the instant Application, see 42 Pa.C.S. § 502, only to DIRECT that all Respondents, including the Boards of Elections in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County, SHALL COMPLY with the prior rulings of this Court in which we have clarified that mail-in and absentee ballots that fail to comply with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Election Code … SHALL NOT BE COUNTED for purposes of the election held on November 5, 2024,” the order says.

Last week, Bucks County, Pennsylvania Election Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia voted to count ballots that failed to comply with state standards.

“I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country,” she said at the time. “People violate laws any time they want. So, for me, if I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention. There’s nothing more important than counting votes.”

Republican Justice Kevin Brobson said in a concurring statement that he wanted to “disabuse local elections officials of the notion that they have the authority to ignore Election Code provisions that they believe are unconstitutional,” The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Democratic Justice David Wecht said, “It is critical to the rule of law that individual counties and municipalities and their elected and appointed officials, like any other parties, obey orders of this Court.”

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley wrote in response to the ruling, “Following our latest RNC lawsuit, today the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yet again that undated ballots CANNOT BE COUNTED. No more excuses. Election officials in Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and other counties have absolutely no choice but to reject illegal ballots. We will hold them to it. Protect The Vote!”

MORE STORIES