On final day of mail ballot voting on demand in Pennsylvania, Bucks County voters face long lines
On the final day of mail-in ballot voting on demand in Pennsylvania – the state's closest option to early voting – some are making allegations about voter suppression in Bucks County.
Republicans in Bucks County and in Washington are expressing their concerns about how Pennsylvania officials have handled the situation related to on-demand mail-in ballots.
The Republican National Committee sent a letter to Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt saying there are "numerous concerning reports" from voters that polling sites are closing early and are not accepting any more voters and that mail ballots will not be counted.
A line outside the Bucks County administration building wrapped around the block ahead of the deadline to request a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
"This is only the second presidential election we had with this system in place," Bob Harvie, Bucks County commissioner and chair of the Board of Elections, said, referring to on-demand mail-in ballot voting.
Lines are long, he says, because it takes on average 10 to 12 minutes to process each application.
"It is a very cumbersome process. We don't have limitless resources here. We have a fixed number of staff. We have a fixed budget," Harvie said.
The Bucks County Board of Elections, though, says officials had to cut the line at some point, unlike on Election Day.
"Last week, the Department of State asked counties to plan to ensure every registered voter who was in line by 5 p.m. today is provided with the opportunity to apply for and submit a mail ballot application," Schmidt said.
That's what the Bucks County Board of Elections says was done.
A county spokesperson said the line was cut around 2:45 p.m. for voters who could complete the on-demand process. Mail-in ballot applications were still being accepted until 5 p.m.
"Our staff has to be able to process all these applications and has to be able to do that on top of the rest of their work, especially today since it's the deadline. We have to upload everything by midnight," Harvie said.
Voters in Doylestown said they waited more than three hours to get through the line for on-demand mail ballot voting.
"It's too long. There's gotta be an easier way. There's gotta be more locations for people to go," Robin Peterson, of Chalfont, said.
"I like this better than dropping this in the mail or putting it in a dropbox," Ralph Borzillo, of Warrington, said.
"I feel it's the safest way to do it," Barbara Graham, of Pipersville, said. "They're going to know who I am and that I voted and no one can vote for me."
Some voters already tried to vote this way last week and were back Tuesday to try again.
"There were 300 people in front of us, so they told us we cannot vote because it was almost time to close," Anne Thenin, of Doylestown, said.
On Election Day, those in line before the polls close, the Bucks County Board of Elections says, will be able to cast their ballots regardless.
Former President Donald Trump's national press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X saying, "You have the right to stay in line when casting your vote!"
Trump's political director James Blair posted a similar message on X.
Long lines in Philadelphia, too
Some voters at City Hall in Philadelphia had to wait hours as well.
"I wanted to make sure my vote is in," one voter said. "Signed, sealed and delivered."
Some high schoolers, many voting for the first time, cast their ballots and rallied at City Hall Tuesday as well.
Trump addressed some voting issues that he said he has already seen during a rally in Allentown Tuesday night.
"If you have a mail-in ballot, get that damn ballot in please immediately," he said. "Because they've already started cheating in Lancaster, they've cheated."
A batch of about 2,500 voter registration forms submitted in Lancaster County included several that were rejected after an automated state system flagged the forms as fraudulent, officials said in a news conference Friday. An investigation is underway. The forms were for registering to vote, not ballots being cast in the election.
When it comes to voting in person on Election Day, as long as you are in line before the polls close, you are guaranteed a chance to vote.
