Summary

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party has sued Erie County’s board of elections over mail ballot issues affecting between 10,000 and 20,000 voters. Some voters received extra ballots, while others never received theirs, potentially impacting their ability to vote in Tuesday’s election.

Only 52% of requested ballots had been returned in Erie, significantly trailing the state’s 67% return rate. The lawsuit demands extended election office hours, a process to track extra ballots, and disclosure of affected voters’ names.

Erie County’s political influence is due to its bellwether status in Pennsylvania, often mirroring state outcomes in tight races. It has swung between major parties, flipping from Obama to Trump in 2016 and back to Biden in 2020 by a narrow 1,400-vote margin.