Trump and his allies allege election ‘fraud’ and abuse in Pennsylvania

With less than a week until Election Day, former President Donald Trump and his allies are making numerous claims of fraud or abuse in the battleground state of Pennsylvania — and while some isolated problems have emerged, election officials are pushing back against any suggestion that this election was deliberately rigged. Efforts to prevent the vote continue.

On Tuesday, Trump amplified those allegations in a social media post, baselessly accusing the state of “massive cheating and getting caught.”

Here’s a more in-depth look at some of the claims.

A woman was arrested in Delaware County?

Late Monday evening, the Trump campaign sent an email blast claiming that a voter in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was “arrested for encouraging people to line up and vote” after election officials told voters to leave and thus “actively suppressed” voters . voting rights. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley also shared a video of the incident on social media and claimed that the dismissed person was a “supporter of President Trump.”

Delaware County pushed back on that claim in a statement and applauded election officials on the ground, saying multiple witnesses described the woman as “disruptive, combative, and trying to influence voters waiting in line.”

The statement stated that this behavior led to many complaints and the Delaware County Park Police, which provides security in the area, responded.

In an updated statement Wednesday, county officials said the woman “did not stand in line for any service” but remained in the lobby for approximately two hours and “approached various individuals,” prompting complaints. Park Police then “provided him with verbal guidance on appropriate behavior and allowed him to remain in the lobby,” then was asked to leave after additional complaints but “refused,” the statement said.

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The county said the matter “remains an active criminal investigation.”

Delaware County Council President Dr. “We take voting rights very seriously in Delaware County,” Monica Taylor said. “Voters have the right to participate in our democracy without harassment or intimidation, and we applaud our Park Police for calming the confusion and allowing voting to continue without disruption.”

“I tried to get the vote back, but I got arrested for exercising my First Amendment right,” the woman later said in a video posted on social media alongside Whatley.

A district spokesperson said the woman was “briefly detained and given a ticket for disorderly conduct.”

Registration fraud in Lancaster and York counties?

Trump has personally brought up allegations of voter fraud in Lancaster County and York County on social media.

In one sense, the former president is right; Officials in Lancaster County say they have stopped potential voter registration fraud. But on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Lancaster County was “caught out” with fraudulent ballots and forms; This claim distorts what officials in Pennsylvania have cited as an example of security systems working properly.

ABC News previously reported Officials in Lancaster County say they have stopped a spate of potential voter registration fraud just weeks before the presidential election. About 2,500 suspected fraudulent voter registration applications were dropped off at the election office in two batches around the registration deadline, the Lancaster County Board of Elections said in a statement. The board said “concerns were raised” during the normal review process and law enforcement was alerted.

Notably, the board said in a statement that fraud was “identified and contained” and praised the incident as showing that the election “system is secure.”

“Our system worked,” the board said. “We will continue to operate with the highest level of integrity, honesty and transparency so that Lancaster County voters can have confidence in our elections.”

Trump also said in his post that York County had also received “THUSANDS” of possibly fraudulent registration and ballot applications.

However, York County officials said in a statement that the investigation is continuing. The York County Commissioner confirmed they have received a “large shipment” of registration forms and mail-in ballot applications and are in the process of reviewing their legality.

In the statement, it was stated that they would alert the authorities if fraud was detected.

“We are committed to ensuring the integrity, safety and security of our elections,” York Region Chief Commissioner Julie Wheeler said in a statement.

Were people in Bucks County removed from the line?

A Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday quickly granted the Trump campaign’s request and ordered a three-day extension of Bucks County’s in-person mail-in voting deadline; This period has been extended until the end of the day on Friday, November 1.

The campaign had only asked for a one-day extension. The deadline was Tuesday at 17.00

In his one-page order, Judge Jeffrey Trauger wrote that the county violated the Pennsylvania Election Code after “turning away voters who applied for mail-in ballots and sought to receive ballots in person before the deadline.”

He ordered the county to allow anyone who wants to “apply for, receive, vote and return a mail ballot” before the end of business Friday.

The decision was a win for the Trump campaign, which filed a lawsuit against the RNC and the Bucks County Board of Elections and others, seeking a one-day extension of the vote-by-mail request deadline, claiming voters were being “turned away.” and was forced to leave by security while trying to apply in person for a mail-in ballot.”

The lawsuit included signed statements from three people who claimed they were turned away Tuesday afternoon.

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“We believe strongly in voter suffrage in Bucks County,” county officials said in a statement following the decision. he said. “Consistent with today’s court order, we are pleased to be able to offer additional days for those who still wish to vote optionally.”

Several Trump allies released video Tuesday afternoon showing law enforcement blocking the line at a polling place in Bucks County before 3 p.m., when the line was supposed to be open until 5 p.m.

Viral social media posts racking up hundreds of thousands of views followed several others. local reports documented long lines forming in Bucks County and authorities cutting lines; This created disappointment among both voters and leading Republicans.

In a statement Tuesday, county officials pushed back on any suggestion that what happened in Bucks County amounted to intentional voter suppression, as Trump’s allies have claimed, saying: “Contrary to what has been portrayed on social media, if you stand in line you will receive Optional mail “You will have the opportunity to submit your application for a mail-in ballot by 17:00.”

“This ballot will be mailed to the voter later or can be picked up by the voter this week,” the statement said.

The county acknowledged that there was indeed some “miscommunication” between officials on the ground. The county said those who applied for optional voting were “briefly told they could not take part,” but added that they were ultimately allowed to submit their applications.

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The Secretary of State’s office echoed that sentiment in a post about X, asking voters to “be patient.”

“We spoke with Bucks County election officials earlier today who assured us that every registered voter who goes to the county elections office by 5pm today will be provided with the opportunity to apply for a mail-in ballot,” the post said. “Please be patient with all county election office staff who are working hard to ensure every registered voter is able to vote in this election.”

A Bucks County spokesperson said overall these issues reflect the reality and confusion surrounding so-called “early voting” in the state: Unlike some other states, Pennsylvania does not have a strict “early voting” period. Instead, there is optional in-person voting, where voters can go to the polling place, request an ballot, fill it out, and return it onsite.

“The Board of Elections office is not a polling place. Optional mail-in ballots do not constitute early voting. This service is provided as a courtesy to voters because we are equipped to do so,” said county spokesman James O. ‘Malley he told the Pennsylvania Star.

“We are happy to accommodate as many voters as possible, but the reality is that this is not a polling place and our staff must be given time to perform other duties in order to conduct the election,” O’Malley said. he said. .

Fact check: Trump and allies press election ‘fraud’ and abuse in Pennsylvania originally appeared abcnews.go.com