A Bucks County official is backtracking after comments made about counting illegal ballots in the Senate race between Democratic incumbent Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick. Diane Ellis-Marseglia, chair of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners, found herself under fire after suggesting she might defy the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling on undated and misdated mail-in ballots.
Ellis-Marseglia made the initial comments during a tense moment in the election, where McCormick was declared the winner by several news outlets but Casey refused to concede, triggering a recount. When discussing the controversial issue of undated mail-in ballots, Ellis-Marseglia remarked, “People violate laws any time they want,” signaling that she might disregard the court’s ruling and count those ballots despite the legal prohibition.
BUCKS COUNTY OPENLY ADMITS THEY WILL NOT OBEY THE LAW. @JackPosobiec talks about the county commissioners that will not listen to the Supreme Court and count ALL the votes, unsigned or illegal. Jack and Kevin want to make Diane Marseglia famous. @KevinPosobiec pic.twitter.com/SI0rNfqElA
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) November 15, 2024
Her comments sparked immediate backlash, especially from Republicans. Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), condemned Ellis-Marseglia, accusing Democrats of attempting to break the law in order to “steal the seat” from the Republican candidate. Whatley emphasized that such actions could severely undermine public confidence in the election process.
Governor Josh Shapiro (D) also weighed in on the controversy, acknowledging that confusion over undated ballots had created a difficult legal situation for counties. However, Shapiro made it clear that the law must be followed. “Any insinuation that our laws can be ignored or do not matter is irresponsible and damages the integrity of our elections,” he said, reiterating the need for officials to respect legal guidelines.
Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia in Pennsylvania on Wednesday apologized for claiming that a "precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore” PA county official apologizes after facing backlash. https://t.co/k3d5aMF0uH
— Randall Brink (@randallbrink) November 21, 2024
Ellis-Marseglia later tried to clarify her comments, claiming that they had been misinterpreted and apologizing for the confusion. “I apologize for all the upset and confusion it caused,” she said, adding that the court’s ruling had provided the clarity she had hoped for. She expressed relief that the legal decision had put the matter to rest, ensuring that undated ballots would not be counted.
Bucks county cheating again,that elected official should resign or be recalled 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸we have a mandate step aside the Supreme Court in you state gave a ruling follow it 🐀🐀🐀🐀
— SammyKaye (@proudNavyMan) November 21, 2024
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing tension between upholding election laws and the political pressures surrounding close races. As the recount continues, the debate over mail-in ballots and election integrity is expected to persist, with both sides closely monitoring every development.
