CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — A judge is expected to hear the case next week of a mail-in-vote challenge in Centre County, where close to one hundred mail-in ballots from the recent primary election are under review.
At this week’s Centre County election board meeting, it was announced that a court suit was filed over the validity of 95 mail-in election ballots which is holding up certifying the county’s primary election results.
“There have been numerous counties that have not been able to certify because there is pending litigation over their ballots. We will, at some point, have to revisit the issue.”
May 16th is when the issue will be revisited in Centre County court. That’s when a hearing has been scheduled by a new judge's order.
The 95 ballots were initially flagged during the election day count for possible violations of state law on how ballots are to be dated. The county election board initially accepted the ballots.
Centre County Republican committee chair Michelle Schellberg then filed the lawsuit, saying the ballots are invalid and should not be counted.
“This is not a time stamp, it’s not to time stamp. It’s an official declaration that you promise that you put your signature and date when you signed it. It’s not saying, ‘I got it in on time,’ it’s a promise you’re making to our county that you're not lying about who you are and why you’re voting.”
The attorney backing the legal challenge says the law is clear.
“The most recent decision from the Supreme Court is black and white. If it’s not signed, if it’s not dated, it shall not be counted.”
This week, state election officials said there was a significant drop in mail-in ballot rejections due to dating, or other issues, in last month’s primary election.
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