Centre County GOP mounts legal challenge over mandatory recount

The Centre County Republican Committee (CCRC) has filed a petition with the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County, challenging a decision by the Democrat-led Centre County Board of Elections (BOE) to exclude mail-in ballots from a mandatory recount of the Nov. 5 election results.

The BOE, as part of the computation and canvass of returns, is required by state law to conduct a statistical recount of a random sample of ballots after each election.

According to Pennsylvania Code 3031.17, the mandatory statistical sample must include a “minimum of 2 percent of the votes cast or 2,000 votes whichever is the lesser.”

In Centre County, more than 25 percent of voters chose to vote-by-mail in the Nov. 5 election, reflecting the significant role mail-in ballots played this election cycle in ensuring accessible and comprehensive voter participation.

The CCRC believes the BOE’s decision to exclude mail-in ballots from their statistical sample not only violates the code’s requirements and undermines the integrity of the recount, but it also raises serious concerns about voter disenfranchisement and fairness.

“The CCRC is committed to ensuring that all votes cast — whether by mail or in-person — are properly represented in this mandatory statistical recount, as the law demands,” said Michelle Schellberg, Chair of the Centre County Republican Committee. “By excluding mail-in ballots, the BOE is attempting to selectively manipulate the mandatory statistical representation of voters in Centre County to align with the razor-thin Democrat vote advantage,”

The CCRC is seeking a ruling from the Court to compel the BOE to include mail-in ballots as part of the 2-percent vote sample, as required.

“This issue is not just about compliance; it’s about protecting the rights of every voter in Centre County and upholding the democratic process,” added Schellberg. “By excluding mail-in ballots from the sample, the BOE is blatantly disregarding a substantial portion of our electorate.”

This is a developing story …