Statement from Board of Elections Chair Bob Harvie

Over the last few days, we've heard a lot of rhetoric and innuendo regarding votes taken last week by the Board of Elections. Most egregious have been the baseless claims that members of the Board were attempting to sway the outcome of an election by choosing to count certain mail-in and provisional ballots. These claims are unequivocally nonsense.

The decisions the Board rendered last week are consistent with its long-standing practice of fighting to protect the rights of registered Bucks County voters who made some immaterial mistake on their ballot envelopes or, even worse, suffered mistakes made by election workers, but who nonetheless cast ballots in an effort to have their vote count. Whatever candidates those ballots do or do not lift to victory is up to the voters, and is not the concern of the Board.

In the case of undated and misdated mail-in ballots cast in this election, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has told us today that those votes cast by registered Bucks County voters shall not be counted for the purposes of the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election. This is precisely the clarity we were seeking from the Courts in this matter. The Board of Elections will of course comply with the order of the Court.

As the issue of undated and misdated ballots remains very much alive before both state and federal courts, we look forward to seeing these cases decided on the merits.

In its four years serving as the Board of Elections, this Administration has overseen elections won by both major parties, and has certified the results of those contests - affirming the will of the voters of Bucks County - without hesitation. In that respect, this year has been and will be no different.

Unfortunately, because this story has been picked up by national media outlets and has gone viral on social media, members of this Board, their families and County staff have been subject to threats and harassment at levels unprecedented under this Administration. We condemn these pathetic actions in no uncertain terms and have turned over these calls and messages to law enforcement. There is no place for that type of behavior in a democracy.

And for those who might be interested, the unofficial tallies of votes in the U.S. Senate race from the mail-in and provisional ballots challenged in this election, which have been shared with both political parties, will be listed below. These numbers make clear, as has been known by both parties, that these votes were never going to alter the outcome of this race.

Mail-in Ballots

• Casey - 225
• McCormick - 182

Provisional Ballots

• Casey - 101
• McCormick - 106