Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia has ignited a storm of controversy in Pennsylvania’s closely watched Senate race by choosing to count unsigned mail-in ballots, a move that completely defies a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling deeming them invalid. Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, openly acknowledged during a county commission meeting on Thursday that her decision violated state law. She described the move as a deliberate act intended to provoke a legal challenge and draw attention to what she called the diminishing weight of judicial precedent. “If I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention,” she said, fully aware of the fallout her actions might provoke.
The decision has drawn fierce criticism from Republicans, who accuse Ellis-Marseglia of attempting to manipulate the outcome of the Senate race between incumbent Bob Casey, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger Dave McCormick. The election, which has already been called for McCormick by the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, is under an automatic recount as McCormick holds a 25,000-vote lead. However, Ellis-Marseglia’s choice to count invalid ballots has further inflamed partisan tensions, with a McCormick campaign consultant describing it as “a naked attempt to steal the election for Casey.”
Ellis-Marseglia’s longstanding ties to Casey have only added to the controversy, according to The Washington Free Beacon. Casey, a three-term senator, has been a vocal supporter of the commissioner, attending a private fundraiser for her 2023 campaign and publicly endorsing her candidacy. After her election victory, Casey lauded the result as a rejection of extremism in Bucks County. Now, with Casey facing steep odds in the recount, critics see Ellis-Marseglia’s actions as an attempt to tip the scales in favor of her political ally.
Diane Ellis-Marseglia, the Bucks County commissioner who is openly breaking the law to count invalid ballots, contributed to @bob_casey‘s campaign in September. https://t.co/jF1pMJvUly pic.twitter.com/eelMtMTl7n
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) November 16, 2024
Adding to the intrigue is the involvement of Marc Elias, a prominent Democratic attorney known for his aggressive legal tactics in election disputes. Elias, who has joined Casey’s recount team, has faced scrutiny for challenging Republican victories in states like Iowa and New York and appears to have his eyes set on overturning elections in 2024.
Election analysts suggest the number of unsigned ballots in Bucks County is unlikely to significantly alter the outcome of the Senate race. Still, the controversy has drawn national attention, shining a spotlight on Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in debates over election integrity. Ellis-Marseglia’s decision has raised fundamental questions about the responsibilities of local officials to enforce court rulings, especially in high-stakes elections. Supporters argue her defiance highlights systemic flaws in the election process, while opponents contend her actions erode public trust in democracy.
The recount, set to conclude on November 27, is being closely monitored, with both parties preparing for potential legal battles. Republicans are determined to uphold state law, while Democrats are exploring ways to challenge the results.
McCormick won. Get over it.
Break the law? Go to jail.
This woman should be sanctioned for life concerning any involvement in politics. Illegally counting votes that are deemed invalid should earn her “many years in federal prison”. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled about this weeks before the election.
Rerun 2020 game
I agree Stephen! The evidence of fraud is there and people just turned a blind eye. Not acceptable!!
How does a commissioner have the power to do this? I understand the entire board might be able to vote to include counting the ballots of unregistered voters (as wrong as that would be). But I don’t understand how a single commissioner can do anything.