Voters express distrust in Pennsylvania election process

In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a significant number of voters attended a meeting to voice their concerns about election integrity. Small business owner Debbie McGinley highlighted her lack of trust in the election process, stating that every ballot should count but expressing doubt about the integrity of those overseeing the process. This sentiment was echoed by others, including Republican Joe Rittenhouse, who accused local election commissioners of sowing distrust by disregarding a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling regarding the counting of mail-in ballots that lacked proper dates. Critics argued that the decision not to count these ballots disenfranchised voters and concentrated power in a small minority, undermining democratic principles. The meeting followed previous gatherings in neighboring Bucks County, where similar allegations were raised against local election officials for noncompliance with court orders. Democrats on election boards had initially opted to count ballots missing necessary dates, insisting that a date does not correlate to a voter's eligibility. In response to the outcry, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized adherence to court rulings concerning mail-in ballots and reinforced the importance of counting only those votes submitted by eligible voters. Despite the backlash, some attendees, like Joseph Alston, shared positive views on voting as a civic responsibility and the need for every lawful vote to be counted.