Threats prevent vote counting | News, Sports, Jobs

As the nation watched and awaited election results in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, state and local officials were dealing with bomb threats, ballot errors and fire alarms, along with more than a dozen incidents that threatened to disrupt Election Day events. statewide.

Blair, Center, Clearfield, Cameron and Chester counties were among those reported for possible bomb threats.

In Blair County, a bomb threat at the Blair County Elections and Voter Registration Office forced county workers to deliver ballots to the Blair County Convention Center, delaying the official count.

The county Board of Elections meets at 7 a.m. Tuesday to begin the process of receiving mail ballots, a news release said.

“The process went smoothly” until 6:50 p.m., when the county received a bomb threat affecting the election office, the statement said.

Emergency protocols were put in place, with Blair County Commissioner Laura Burke and attorney Chris Furman remaining in the office to maintain oversight of mail-in ballots.

The mail investigation resumed after the building was evacuated by the sheriff’s office’s K-9 unit, the statement said.

Police presence was heavy at the convention center; State police and sheriff’s deputies barred anyone who was not a county official or poll worker from entering the building. To comply with election rules, a media staging area was designated opposite the rear entrance.

All but one delivered their ballots to the convention center on time. Antis Township was the only one left standing, and at 10 p.m., Blair County Commissioner Amy Webster said they were still waiting for election materials.

“There were so many people waiting in line at the eight o’clock they were allowed to vote that they actually couldn’t close until 9:31,” Webster explained. The poll cannot be closed until those who line up at 20:00 have voted.

While waiting for the final ballots to arrive, poll workers loaded their ballots into the back of a Blair County trailer and took them to the election office for processing.

Voting extended in Clearfield County

In Clearfield County, due to a bomb threat, election officials requested and received permission to extend voting until 9 p.m., after the county attorney made a verbal request for immediate special assistance, according to court documents. The bomb threat was made at the Clearfield County Administration Building, where votes were being counted, according to court documents.

At a press conference Tuesday night, Gov. Josh Shapiro said there had been multiple bomb threats at polling stations across the state, but there appeared to be no threat to the public.

“My team and I have been in direct communication with Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris, who is coordinating with local and federal law enforcement as well as PEMA. Shapiro said, “State and local law enforcement, along with the FBI, are investigating these threats and so far they have not been credible to the public.” “There is no threat,” he said.

The FBI released a statement regarding the bomb threats, stating that the bureau was “aware of bomb threats at polling places in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains.” “So far, none of the threats have been determined to be credible,” the statement said, adding: “The integrity of the elections is among the FBI’s highest priorities. “We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote.”

Printing errors, fire alarms

In Cambria County, election officials learned early in the morning that ballots had not been printed correctly and implemented an emergency protocol; He sought a court order to extend voting hours to 10 p.m. and sent sheriff’s deputies to Pittsburgh to order new ballots and then return and distribute them. ballot papers. (See related story, Page A5)

At a news conference Tuesday evening, Cambria County commissioners worked to clarify misinformation and reassure residents that every vote will be counted correctly.

“We have taken every step possible to ensure that every vote here today is counted,” said county attorney Ron Repak.

While Cambria County election officials were dealing with unscanned ballots, some voters in Allegheny County were dealing with intermittent fire alarm tests; until the court ordered the testing to be stopped.

Among a series of court filings on election day in Allegheny County, Moon Area High School was ordered and ordered to immediately cease all inspections and fire alarm testing for that day until all voting was completed.

According to court documents, two Moon area precincts – 00-07 and 00-14 – were located at Moon Area High School; These documents also stated that the sheriff was authorized to deliver and transmit the warrant to the school district’s main offices. , 8353 University Boulevard, Moon Township.

The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office was also called to remove signs at polling places in the 44th Legislative District; signs were posted there reading “Democrat Hadley Haas failed to provide required public finance reports informing citizens who was financing her campaign.”

The signs were created to resemble the State Department’s public announcements and also stated that “breaking campaign finance laws is a serious matter.” “Reject Haas and his campaign supported by out-of-state dirty money.”

A note below the signs said they were “paid for by Driving Education Science and Knowledge PAC.”

The misleading signs were posted at 10 polling locations in the 44th Legislative District, and after they were ordered removed and not removed until 3:47 p.m., the sheriff was ordered to remove the signs and place them in the evidence room. to court documents.

Also in Allegheny County, three unidentified men allegedly blocked the entrance to the polling place at the Quentin Roosevelt School, 200 The Boulevard St., Pittsburgh. The sheriff’s office had the authority to “investigate, arrest and transport any person to the Election Court for a hearing.”

electoral college issues

While seeking permission from the court to use county employees as local election board clerks due to a number of vacant positions on boards in Allegheny County, it was noted that election officials were informed Tuesday morning by several board members that they were unable or unwilling to do so. In this case, it is stated in the court documents that the service will be provided. It was stated that there are 1,327 separate election districts in Allegheny County.

Allegheny County officials also sought court approval to use Department of Health employees to assist with pre-canvass and absentee ballots as the county receives an estimated 225,000 mail/absentee ballots.

A court order was also sought and obtained in Allegheny County after poll watchers on behalf of the Democratic Party or Democratic Party candidates caused voter confusion by wearing “Voter Protection” badges at polling places. Because poll watchers are prohibited from wearing clothing supporting any party, they were ordered to remove their badges while at all polling places in Allegheny County, according to court documents.

Luzerne County wasn’t facing its own problems, as the polling place in Laflin County didn’t open until 8:30 a.m., causing voters who arrived early to leave. The polling place was ordered to remain open until 9:30 p.m. so voters could return to fill out their ballots.

In Fayette County, Washington County Election Judge Vincent Manetta said he would remove ballots from the ballot box and audit or hand count votes cast for the presidential race. Allegedly, Manetta would wait for the polls to close and then count the race himself, even though he was informed by the county’s attorney that he could not do so.

In that case, Marybeth Kuznik, director of the Fayette County Bureau of Elections, sought and received a court-issued mandamus requiring Manetta to perform his duties under the statute. If he failed to comply, the court ordered the Sheriff’s Department to escort a poll worker and election materials from the Washington County area to the Fayette County Elections Office immediately after the polls closed.