October 29, 2024
With just eight days until Election Day, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has issued a stern letter to Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, urging immediate action to address reported issues affecting voters across the state. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley warned that widespread problems, including early poll closures, equipment failures, and conflicting voting information, are obstructing Pennsylvanians’ right to vote.
“Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth deserve every option available to exercise their civic duty,” Whatley stated. “Voters are being turned away, given faulty information, and told their ballots will not be counted. This is nothing short of voter suppression, and we demand immediate action to ensure every legal vote can be cast and counted properly.”
Reports of Polling Site Issues
According to the RNC’s press release, voters across Pennsylvania have encountered various challenges at polling sites. Complaints include reports of malfunctioning computers, polling stations closing early, and confusion over mail-in ballot deadlines. On social media, some voters expressed frustration that county election offices closed well before posted hours, turning away voters who showed up expecting to vote.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently cast his mail-in ballot at a satellite office without issue, sharing the experience on X (formerly Twitter). The RNC emphasized that ordinary voters are not experiencing the same ease at polling sites, claiming that “county offices appear unable or unwilling to provide” a similarly smooth process.
Bucks County Committeewoman Sounds the Alarm
Fran Haller, a Republican committeewoman in Bucks County, described difficulties with “On Demand” voting. Haller reported that at certain service centers, particularly the Levittown office, doors have closed as early as 2:30 p.m., despite an official closing time of 4:30 p.m. She shared concerns with The Gateway Pundit, stating, “Voters are being turned away at the County Gov’t Service Centers because they are closing well before the hours that are posted on the Board of Election’s website.”
Haller also noted that voters were recently turned away from the Doylestown location because only one printer was available, preventing timely processing. “This is voter disenfranchisement,” Haller said, adding that calls to county commissioners yielded little more than an apology.
The Bucks County Republican Committee has since issued guidance on social media, encouraging voters to report any disruptions in voting access. They have provided an email address for voters to document instances where they were turned away due to early closures or equipment problems.
Confusion Over Voting Information
In addition to early closures, the RNC’s letter highlighted another issue with voter information. A website, vote.pa, which is not affiliated with Pennsylvania’s Department of State or the Bucks County Board of Elections, reportedly provided inaccurate details about voting hours, claiming that on-demand voting would be available until 5 p.m. on Saturday. The RNC clarified that the official site, vote.pa.gov, should be referenced for accurate election information.
The RNC reiterated that any obstacles to voting access must be addressed immediately. “We are asking Secretary Schmidt to provide relief immediately,” Whatley stated, citing the Secretary’s commitment to a “free, fair, safe, and secure” election.
Concerns of Voter Suppression
Val Biancaniello, a Pennsylvania GOP committeewoman and RNC delegate, was taken into police custody on Monday after reportedly telling voters to “stay in line” and cast their ballots at a Delaware County polling site. Biancaniello claims that she was responding to efforts by Democratic election workers to discourage in-person voting. Witnesses at the site expressed shock at Biancaniello’s detainment, with one bystander remarking, “She is not influencing people!”
Biancaniello stated on X that Democrats were attempting to dissuade voters from voting on-site, directing them instead to a satellite location with limited ballot applications available. “This is voter suppression in Delaware County, Pennsylvania,” she posted. “I did nothing wrong except encourage people to stay in line and vote. So they arrested me.”
RNC Demands Immediate Intervention
In its letter to Secretary Schmidt, the RNC emphasized the urgency of action as the state approaches the deadline for in-person mail ballot requests on October 29. The RNC’s appeal aims to ensure voters have equitable and dependable access to the polls, echoing Whatley’s sentiment: “We demand immediate action to ensure every legal vote can be cast and counted properly.”
The situation in Pennsylvania is just one example of the broader election-related tensions across the U.S. as Election Day nears. Republican officials argue that such issues in key battleground states highlight the need for vigilant oversight to prevent voter disenfranchisement.
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