Voters line up again in Bucks County after judge grants extension to apply for mail-in ballots

A judge said that Bucks County voters who want to apply for an early mail ballot now have until Friday at 5 p.m.

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Thursday, October 31, 2024
Voters line up again in Bucks County after judge grants extension to apply for mail-in ballots
Voters were lining up again outside the Bucks County administration building in Doylestown on Thursday after a judge granted an extension to apply for mail-in ballots.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Voters were lining up again outside the Bucks County administration building in Doylestown Thursday after a judge granted an extension to apply for mail-in ballots.

"I tried to vote the other day- was unsuccessful so fortunately the courts intervened and gave us a couple extra days. I'm not going to be able to be here on Tuesday so came back this morning," said Ken Huth, from Newtown.

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The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign against the county, accusing officials of turning away voters before the original 5 p.m. deadline on Tuesday. The confusion appeared to be centered around whether you needed to be in line by 5 p.m. or processed by 5 p.m.

"I want to say 2:30 p.m., they ended the line," said Craig Edwards, from Perkasie. "They put a cone out and said nobody after this point."

Edwards says he got to the building around 3:45 p.m. but was told he wasn't allowed in.

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"We said, 'I thought PA statute said as long as we were in line, we could get in?' and they said, 'No,'" Edwards recalled.

"I thought you were allowed to vote until 5 p.m. Apparently, 3:15 p.m. is too late," Huth added.

Some voters said they were told they could get a mail-in ballot application but could not fill it out and submit it on-site.

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Pat Poprik, the chair of the Bucks County Republican Committee, said her office received a lot of calls and they got involved. She's happy with this resolution.

"A lot of people were upset and I'm so excited this was what was decided because voters -- whatever their party -- felt they didn't get a chance to, and they should have," Poprik said.

County officials released a statement after the ruling saying they are pleased to offer additional time, but added, "This administration continues to ask the Pennsylvania General Assembly for much-needed reform and clarity in the election law."

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