Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The head of the Bucks County Board of Elections weighed on the court ruling that struck down the state’s mail-in voting law as unconstitutional.
Bucks County Commissioners Chairperson Bob Harvie, also the head of the county Board of Elections, said he expects the decision to be overturned on appeal by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He also said lawmakers in Harrisburg should come together to address needed changes in the law, known as Act 77, while keeping no excuse mail-in voting.
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The Friday morning ruling from Commonwealth Court Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt came in response to a lawsuit by 14 Republican lawmakers over no excuse mail-in voting, which was approved by the GOP-led legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2019.
The decision is being appealed by Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration.
The Commonwealth Court judge’s Friday decision is stayed until the appeal can be heard in court.
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Bucks County election officials are well underway in preparing the mail-in voting process for the spring 2022 primary.
Harvie, a Democrat, issued the following statement when asked about the Friday court decision:
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“I fully expect this decision to be overturned on appeal by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and hope that our legislators and governor can again come together in a bipartisan fashion to address the outstanding requests of boards of elections all over the Commonwealth.
“Act 77 was passed by a Republican legislature and signed by a Democratic governor and is one of the most significant and necessary bipartisan actions taken in Pennsylvania in decades. At the time it passed, 12 of 14 members of our Bucks County delegation — Republicans and Democrats — voted to pass Act 77. While the law presents challenges to boards of elections – such as difficult application deadlines, a narrow window for counting votes, and lack of pre-canvassing – the answer is to fix the law, not strike it down.
“At this time, Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting law remains in effect and the Bucks County Board of Elections continues to prepare accordingly for the Primary Election.
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“Since the implementation of Act 77, our elections have been conducted safely, accurately and securely. Voters should be able to cast their ballots in person or in the mail. In a democracy, we should always strive to make it easier for people to vote, not harder.”
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