In a victory for the Trump campaign, a Pennsylvania judge extended the deadline for in-person mail ballot applications in Bucks County, a Philadelphia suburb, following complaints of voter disenfranchisement due to long wait times and an unprepared election office.
As reported by NBC Philadelphia, Judge Jeffrey Trauger issued a one-page order allowing Bucks County residents until Friday to apply for an early mail-in ballot.
BREAKING: A Pennsylvania judge has just ruled in favor of the Trump campaign, ordering that in-person early voting be extended three extra days in Bucks County, until 5 pm Friday.
HUGE.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 30, 2024 [1]
The Trump campaign’s lawsuit, filed Wednesday morning, highlighted the critical role of Pennsylvania in the upcoming 2024 election and argued that voters who had been waiting in line by the original Tuesday deadline should still be permitted to apply for a ballot.
Bucks County’s election office, however, reportedly turned voters away after the cutoff, prompting the campaign to seek judicial intervention.
This case adds to the wave of election-related lawsuits in Pennsylvania, a pivotal battleground state.
A representative for Bucks County has yet to comment on Judge Trauger’s ruling. With Pennsylvania’s significance in the presidential race, the outcome of these legal battles could impact voter access and participation as Election Day approaches.
Original article below:
The Trump-Vance team has filed a legal complaint over what they describe as blatant voter suppression tactics in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
According to the campaign’s claim, early voters were pressured to leave voting lines and were told to return later—a move the campaign argues infringes on voters’ rights.
As reported by Red State [2], Bucks County, an area that narrowly favored Joe Biden in the last election, has once again become a pivotal battleground in Pennsylvania, a state both campaigns know could decide the election.
[3]In an email circulated by the Trump-Vance team, the campaign emphasized that any voter in line by 5 p.m. should be permitted to cast their ballot, as per state rules.
“This is a direct violation of Pennsylvanians’ rights to cast their ballot,” the message stated, asserting that some voters in Bucks County were turned away as early as 2:30 p.m.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
There’s been lines like this for days across counties in PA. Only for elections officials to come out and push people out of line and tell them to come back.
Voter suppression! pic.twitter.com/aYrR1N1AeD [4]
— James Blair (@JamesBlairUSA) October 29, 2024 [5]
The email called out Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently made claims in Washington, D.C., portraying Republicans as “a threat to democracy.” Meanwhile, the Trump-Vance campaign contends that Harris’s political allies in Pennsylvania are actively discouraging early voting.
[6]The message: “This is against the law. This is voter suppression from the left. We will fight…Go vote, and stay in line! Do not let election officials turn you away. If you are turned away, submit a report to our lawyers.”
A link to a complaint submission portal was provided, underscoring the campaign’s determination to ensure “every legal vote” is counted in Pennsylvania, especially in counties like Bucks where the margin is razor-thin.
Pennsylvania’s Department of State reaffirmed that voters in line by 5 p.m. should have access to their mail-in ballot applications and the right to vote.
If you are in line at a county elections office tonight at 5 p.m. to apply for your mail-in ballot, counties must give you an opportunity to do so. Our team continues to work with all counties to ensure every eligible voter who wants to vote by mail ballot is able to. https://t.co/Px4MfTo0eQ [7]
— PA Department of State (@PAStateDept) October 29, 2024 [8]
Bucks County’s role as a swing jurisdiction adds to the pressure for both campaigns as they rally support in this critical Keystone State. Currently, polling shows Trump with a slim lead over Harris, emphasizing Pennsylvania’s role as a potential decider in the election.
[9]Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is one of the most crucial pieces on the electoral map. While Trump may have other options to secure a path to victory, Pennsylvania’s electoral weight makes it an essential prize for both sides.
For Harris, a loss in Pennsylvania would be difficult to recover from, given the competitive nature of other battleground states.
The Trump-Vance lawsuit underscores a larger theme in this election cycle: voter turnout and election integrity. As both campaigns turn their eyes to the Keystone State, securing Pennsylvania’s vote may be key to clinching a victory.