Judge Orders Bucks Co. To Extend Voting Deadline After Trump Suit

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A state judge has ordered Bucks County to extend the deadline for voters to request a mail-in ballot following a law suit by Donald Trump, Reuters reported.

Voters will now have until Friday to apply for, receive or return a mail-in ballot, according to an order from Judge Jeffrey Trauger, the Reuters report said. The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported the news Wednesday afternoon.

Trump this week filed a suit against Bucks County, accusing the government of turning away voters who were at county offices seeking on-demand mail-in ballots.

The Trump-Vance Campaign, in a press release, said it filed the lawsuit against Bucks County for turning away voters, calling it a "a direct violation of Pennsylvanians' rights to cast their ballot - and all voters have a right to STAY in line."

His campaign is suing Bucks County over claims of voter intimidation and long lines as voters gathered to get mail-in ballots on the last day they were able to request them on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, NBC10 Philadelphia reported.

The Pennsylvania Department of State made clear if voters are in line at a county elections office by 5:00PM, the counties MUST give voters the opportunity to apply for their mail-in ballot. Pennsylvania voters were turned away as early as 2:30 p.m., the Trump-Vance campaign stated.

Tuesday was the last day for residents to seek a mail-in ballot. Many residents waited at three county offices in long lines to get that opportunity.

"We are aware that, due to a miscommunication, individuals in line to apply for an on-demand mail-in ballot were briefly told they could not be accommodated. In fact, these voters were allowed to submit mail-in ballot applications today," the government said in an announcement on Facebook.

"Contrary to what is being depicted on social media, if you are in line by 5 p.m. for an on-demand mail-in ballot application, you will have the opportunity to submit your application for a mail-in ballot. That ballot will then be mailed to the voter or can be picked up by the voter later this week," the Facebook post stated.

Complaints have been raised over long lines at Bucks County offices where residents can submit on-demand votes in the Nov. 5 general election.

"We have gotten many calls from voters this weekend saying they weren't able to vote on demand at the Bucks County Board of Elections or their satellite offices as they closed the lines for on-demand voting around noon," the Bucks County Republican Committee said.

The last day for on-demand in-person voting was Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Administration Building in Doylestown, and 4:30 p.m. at the Government Centers in Quakertown and Levittown, county officials said.