Lehigh Times

Pennsylvania House Republican leadership has threatened members of the Lehigh County Board of Elections with impeachment over reports that they approved the counting of undated mail ballots, a move they allege violates the state’s election laws.

“…we are demanding that you rescind your endorsement of this unlawful action,” the letter from House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and other leaders stated.

On Monday, the elections board of volunteers Dan McCarthy, Doris Glaessmann and Jane Ervin approved the counting of 260 mail ballots from the Nov. 2 municipal elections that did not have dates on the outer envelopes as required. 

The Allentown Morning Call reports that "two candidates for a Lehigh County judge seat, Republican David Ritter and Democrat Zachary Cohen, said they would go to court with 'unsettled questions' about the state’s vote-by-mail law.”

The news publication also reported on Nov. 19 that Democrat lawmakers condemned the Republicans' actions in a statement, citing that previous court opinions have upheld that undated mail ballots could be counted.

“It is wholly inappropriate for House Republicans to threaten impeachment against a group of volunteer officials for no reason other than having a different interpretation of the law,” the statement said, as reported by The Morning Call.

Ritter holds a 74-vote lead over Cohen, according to unofficial totals.

In their letter, the GOP leaders said the law was clear regarding the requirements that ballots be dated.

It “exists to promote voter integrity and prevent voting fraud,” they wrote.

“So there can be no misunderstanding,” the letter continued, “failure to promptly conform to Pennsylvania law will leave us no choice but to seek your removal from office using the authority vested to the House of Representatives…”

Back in May, House Republicans threatened Philadelphia election officials with impeachment over their decision to count undated mail ballots.

GOP lawmakers told Philadelphia city commissioners Lisa Deely and Omar Sabir that “no elected official, officer of the commonwealth or appointed official has the authority to plainly ignore, or worse, openly violate the laws that direct the administration of elections.”

The commissioners voted to reverse their decision, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

“The House GOP needs to reign in rogue election boards who are willingly violating our election laws,” wrote state Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), one of the signers of both letters, on his Twitter account. “Articles of impeachment are being drafted for the members of the Lehigh County Board of Elections.”

Grove is the sponsor of election legislation House Bill 1800 that is set for a floor vote in mid-December.