Trump campaign to sue Bucks County after voters have issues with mail ballot voting on demand
Former President Donald Trump's campaign said it is suing Bucks County after some voters trying to participate in the county's mail-in ballot voting on demand process faced long lines on the final day.
Pennsylvania doesn't have early voting on voting machines like other states — its closest thing to it is called mail ballot voting on demand.
In that process, voters can request a mail-in ballot in person at their county's elections office. The voter then receives the ballot in minutes, fills it out in person and returns it all in the same trip.
Other states have a full early voting process complete with voting machines.
The deadline to vote a mail ballot on demand was Tuesday, Oct. 29, the same as the deadline to request a mail-in ballot. Long lines formed outside the Bucks County administration building Tuesday.
When CBS News Philadelphia was there, the line was wrapped around the block.
Bucks County Commissioner and Chair of the County Board of Elections Bob Harvie said lines were long because it takes workers 10-12 minutes to process an application for a voter in the on-demand process.
"It is a very cumbersome process. We don't have limitless resources here," Harvie said. "We have a fixed number of staff. We have a fixed budget."
According to a county spokesperson, the line for the on-demand process was cut around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The county continued accepting applications for mail-in ballots until 5 p.m. The Pennsylvania Department of State had asked every county to ensure every voter who was in line by 5 p.m. could at least fill out and submit an application for a mail-in ballot.
The intent to sue was announced Tuesday night as Trump rallied in Allentown.
Michael Whatley, Republican National Committee chair, said the campaign intends to sue the county over alleged voter suppression involving turning voters away.
"We are not going to let them suppress our votes," Whatley said. "We are going to fight. I'm proud to tell you tonight the Trump-Vance campaign has announced a huge lawsuit against Bucks County for turning away our voters."
Voters who have a mail-in ballot but weren't able to cast it on demand should return the completed ballot to a drop box. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said this close to the election, it's best to hand-deliver the ballot.
The Bucks County spokesperson said county elections officials are aware litigation may be filed and have no further comment.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Postal Service recommended voters mail ballots no less than a week before the county elections office needs it — in Pennsylvania, they're due by 8 p.m. on Election Day — postmarks don't count.
If you are voting on Election Day, as long as you are in line before polls close, you will be guaranteed a chance to vote.
