Monroe County’s handling of the 2024 election has drawn significant attention, particularly regarding the controversial issue of undated mail-in ballots. On November 18, the County Commissioners reversed their earlier decision, announcing they would not count improperly dated or undated mail-in ballots, a move that aligns with Pennsylvania law and recent state Supreme Court rulings. Separately, the county conducted its 2% audit on Monday, November 20, an automatic procedure required by state law to verify machine accuracy through a hand recount of paper ballots.
Undated Ballots Controversy: A Timeline
- November 8, 2024: During the initial review of provisional ballots, Democratic attorneys raised objections to the exclusion of undated and incorrectly dated mail-in ballots. Tensions escalated as legal teams debated how to handle these ballots.
- November 14, 2024: At a formal hearing, the Democratic-controlled Board of Commissioners decided to count the undated and incorrectly dated ballots, following advice from a retired Democratic attorney. This decision conflicted with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ruling, which reaffirmed the invalidity of improperly dated ballots. Lawyers for U.S. Senate race David McCormick argued for adherence to the court’s guidance.
- November 18, 2024: Following public outcry and legal pressure, the Commissioners reversed course. They decided to exclude undated and incorrectly dated ballots, affirming their commitment to follow state law. This decision corrected what critics called an improper interpretation of the rules.
2% Audit Highlights Procedural Concerns
On Monday, November 20, Monroe County carried out its legally mandated 2% audit. This process, required by Pennsylvania election law, selects the precinct with the highest voter turnout to the number of registered voters for a hand recount of 2% of its paper ballots to ensure the accuracy of voting machines. The audit is a standard reliability check and is unrelated to any fraud investigations, contrary to common misconceptions.
For the 2024 general election, Chestnuthill 1 was the precinct selected for the audit, as it had the highest in-person voter turnout compared to its number of registered voters on November 5. Chestnuthill 1 saw over 2,000 voters, though officials are still awaiting the final, certified turnout figures. Importantly, the 2% audit only recounts ballots cast by in-person voters in the selected precinct.
Observers raised concerns about the way the audit was conducted. Election Director Sara May-Silfee organized the process with five two-person teams performing the hand count. Participants received minimal training, which stood in stark contrast to formal hand-count procedures that typically involve four to eight people per team and several hours of instruction. Additionally, there was no effort to mix team members by political party, a standard practice to promote transparency and fairness.
The hand count began promptly after tally sheets were distributed, but some observers, including individuals with formal training in hand-counting ballots, noted the risk of errors in such an abbreviated process.
Restoring Confidence in Election Processes
The Monroe County Commissioners’ November 18 decision to follow state law on undated ballots was a critical step in restoring trust in the election process. However, the 2% audit’s execution highlights the need for improved procedural consistency and training to ensure transparency and reliability in future elections.
As Monroe County continues to refine its processes, these developments underscore the importance of both compliance with legal standards and the implementation of best practices in election management.