{"id":2345185,"date":"2024-09-24T09:04:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T13:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-county-skipped-required-ballot-test-rnc-says\/"},"modified":"2024-09-24T09:06:39","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T13:06:39","slug":"pennsylvania-county-skipped-required-ballot-test-rnc-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-county-skipped-required-ballot-test-rnc-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania County Skipped Required Ballot Test, RNC Says"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpennsylvania-county-skipped-required-ballot-test-rnc-says%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2345185&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Montgomery County Board of Elections in\u200d Pennsylvania \u200chas been accused by the \u200bRepublican National Committee\u200d (RNC) of bypassing a \u2062legal requirement for testing mail-in ballots\u2063 before their distribution. \u200dPennsylvania law mandates that ballots \u200bmust undergo \u2063&#8221;logic and accuracy testing&#8221; \u2063at least 15 days prior to an election to prevent issues on Election\u200c Day, such as \u200bproblems with scanning or ballot errors. Despite this, Montgomery County began\u200c mailing out 115,000 mail-in \u2062ballots last week, raising concerns about the integrity of the election process.<\/p>\n<p>Neil Makhija, the\u200c county&#8217;s election\u2064 board chair, announced on social media\u2064 that he had cast \u2062the first \u200cvote for the upcoming election, emphasizing the county&#8217;s\u200c commitment to a safe and accessible \u200bvoting process. In\u2062 response,\u2063 the RNC claimed that distributing ballots before \u2062the\u2064 required testing constitutes a breach of election integrity and requested that Montgomery\u200c County halt all mail-in ballot\u200d distributions until the mandated tests are completed. They \u2062have also filed a formal\u2063 complaint regarding the matter.<\/p>\n<p>Montgomery County officials\u2063 have \u2063stated that they \u2063completed necessary testing before printing the \u200bballots \u200band assert that they \u2062are complying with all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-attorney-phil-kline-and-it-expert-j-r-carlson-presser-wednesday-exposing-mark-zuckerbergs-dark-money-cash-for-chaos\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Attorney Phil Kline and IT Expert J.R. Carlson Presser Wednesday Exposing Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s Dark Money Cash for Chaos\">state election laws<\/a>. However, they \u200dhave not\u200c provided information on \u2063when specific tests were conducted, and they continue to \u200dencourage voters to participate \u2062in the election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Board of Elections was so eager to send out the first mail-in ballots in the state that it skipped a legally required step in the process, the Republican National Committee (RNC) alleges.<\/p>\n<p>Ballots must be run through the counting machinery for &ldquo;logic and accuracy testing&rdquo; before being used in an election, according to Pennsylvania law 25 P.S. &sect;3031.10(d) and a March 7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/content\/dam\/copapwp-pagov\/en\/dos\/resources\/voting-and-elections\/directives-and-guidance\/2024-Directive-on-Logic-Accuracy-Testing-3.0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">directive<\/a> from the Pennsylvania secretary of state. This testing must be done at least 15 days before every election, and certification of testing must be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of State.<\/p>\n<p>Why the testing? It is a preventive check. Imagine sending out thousands of ballots, then finding out on Election Day that they can&rsquo;t be properly scanned in the equipment.<\/p>\n<p>Logic and accuracy testing finds ballot errors such as the problems with the location of folds in mail ballots; incorrectly worded ballot questions; missing or improperly labeled races. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>115,000 ballots were requested. The county started mailing them out last week.<\/p>\n<p>Neil Makhija, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, posted on social media Sept. 17 that he cast the first vote in Pennsylvania. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I serve as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-caught-them-lin-wood-outed-mysterious-georgia-operative-gabe-sterling-now-video-shows-him-admitting-he-helped-set-up-drop-boxes-and-promoted-far-left-activists-as-absentee-ballot-counters\/\" title=\"WE CAUGHT THEM: Lin Wood Outed Mysterious Georgia Operative Gabe Sterling - Now Video Shows Him Admitting He Helped Set Up Drop Boxes and Promoted Far Left Activists as Absentee Ballot Counters\">chief election official<\/a> in PA&rsquo;s 3rd largest county &mdash; where we&rsquo;re working to ensure a safe, secure, and accessible election for all,&rdquo; Makhija posted. &ldquo;Get ready to vote, Montco! 115,000 ballots are coming to mailboxes this week. In person, our ballots are available NOW. &#8252;&#65039;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Montco is the local nickname for Montgomery County.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>Happy Election Day! This morning I cast the first 2024 General Election ballot in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania!! &#128499;&#65039; &#128588;&#127998;<\/p>\n<p>I serve as the chief election official in PA&rsquo;s 3rd largest county&mdash;where we&rsquo;re working to ensure a safe, secure, and accessible election for all. <\/p>\n<p>Get ready&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tR1vsNSAJH\">pic.twitter.com\/tR1vsNSAJH<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&mdash; Commissioner Neil Makhija (@NeilMakhija) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NeilMakhija\/status\/1836082080444551429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 17, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>But the Republican National Committee says, slow your roll, Montco.<\/p>\n<p>The RNC sent a Sept. 18 <a href=\"https:\/\/prod-static.gop.com\/media\/documents\/let_09-18-2024_to_Mont_County_L_and_A_testing_1726715258.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">letter<\/a> to Montgomery County saying it has violated the law by distributing ballots to voters before the required comprehensive testing of its voting equipment. All ballots, machines, and systems must be tested after appropriate notice &mdash; before ballots go out &mdash; to ensure ballots are cast and counted properly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Pennsylvania voters deserve to know why these ballots were distributed without testing and be assured Montgomery County is counting them properly,&rdquo; RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement. &ldquo;This is an unacceptable breach of election integrity, and all legal options are on the table.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The RNC has asked Montgomery County election officials to immediately cease the distribution of all mail and absentee ballots until it completes all mandated testing. And any ballots distributed so far must be &ldquo;segregated upon return so that arrangements can be made to count these ballots by hand.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The letter said the RNC had already lodged a complaint with the Montgomery County Election Tip Line established by District Attorney Kevin Steele.<\/p>\n<p>Kate Delano, director of communications for the Montgomery County District Attorney&rsquo;s Office, told The Federalist in a phone call that she did not have immediate, direct knowledge of the tip.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We take all reports to the tip line seriously,&rdquo; Delano said, &ldquo;Our team of Montgomery County detectives and persecutors look into each one and respond appropriately.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>The Federalist sent emails to county commissioners Neil Makhija, Jamila Winder, and Thomas DiBello, and left a message for the Montgomery County Communications Director Megan Alt, who responded at the end of the day.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Montgomery County completed ballot acceptance testing before any ballots were printed. Ballot acceptance testing ensures that marks on ballots can be accurately and efficiently scanned by the high-speed scanners once voters return the completed ballots,&rdquo; Alt told The Federalist in an email. &ldquo;The County then completed its logic and accuracy testing of the central scanners that will be used in the precanvass and canvass of mail-in ballots. Once the central scanners&rsquo; logic and accuracy testing was completed, Montgomery County began to deliver mail-in ballots to the post office. Logic and accuracy testing for the precinct-level scanners used for the in-person portion of the election is ongoing.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>The Federalist asked for a date on the day of testing. The county did not respond. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Montgomery County is fully complying with the Pennsylvania Election Code and Department of State directives,&rdquo; Alt wrote. &ldquo;The 115,000 Montgomery County voters who have requested mail-in ballots already will receive those ballots soon. Montgomery County encourages all qualified electors to make their plans for voting in the 2024 General Election and exercising their franchise.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The RNC said the county did not respond to its letter, and because of that the RNC went to court Friday to compel the county to comply with the law.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The RNC, along with the Montgomery County Republican Committee and its Chairman, and Senate Candidate Dave McCormick filed suit to ensure that all ballots, machines, and systems undergo logic and accuracy testing, after the appropriate notice,&rdquo; Pennsylvania RNC Election Integrity Counsel Linda Kerns, told The Federalist in an emailed statement. &ldquo;We understand Montgomery County performed such testing today, Sept. 23, 2024, even though the county began making mail-in ballots available on September 17, 2024.&nbsp;We want to make sure the voters are protected, and no one votes on a compromised ballot.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The complaint, filed in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, shows a timeline of planned testing illustrated through county staff emails.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Remarkably, defendants were aware that &hellip; testing had not been completed on September 17,&rdquo; when it started mailing out ballots, court papers say.<\/p>\n<p>Montgomery County is a battleground county in the nation&rsquo;s most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-host-holding-elections-threatens-our-democracy\/\" title=\"CNN Host: Holding Elections Threatens Our Democracy\">important battleground state<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As of Sept. 23, the county has Montgomery has 619,877 registered voters. Of those, 307,600 are Democrats, 209,091 are Republicans. That is a difference of 98,509. The rest of the 103,186 voters, are affiliated with a different party or no party at all. Will they fill the gap for Republicans or add to the Democrats&rsquo; numbers? Either way they hold the key to this crucial suburban Philadelphia County.<\/p>\n<p><em>For more election news and updates, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/electionbriefing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">electionbriefing.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lara-logan-challenges-media-to-ask-certain-questions-about-afghanistan\/\" title=\"Lara Logan Challenges Media To Ask Certain Questions About Afghanistan\">award-winning investigative journalist<\/a> with decades of media experience.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Republican National Committee (RNC) claims that the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Board of Elections was so eager to distribute the state&#8217;s first mail-in ballots that it bypassed a legally mandated procedure. According to Pennsylvania law 25 P.S. \u00a73031.10(d) and a directive from the state secretary of state issued on March 7, ballots must undergo &#8220;logic and accuracy testing&#8221; with counting machines before they can be utilized in an election. This testing is required to be completed at least 15 days prior to each election, and certification of this testing must be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of State.<\/p>\n<p>The purpose of this testing is preventative; it ensures that any potential issues\u2014such as errors in ballot folding locations, incorrectly phrased questions, or missing labels\u2014are identified before Election Day. A total of 115,000 ballots were requested by voters, and the county began mailing them out last week.<\/p>\n<p>Neil Makhija, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, announced on social media on September 17 that he had cast Pennsylvania&#8217;s first vote for the upcoming election. He emphasized his role as chief election official in one of Pennsylvania&#8217;s largest counties and encouraged residents to prepare for voting.<\/p>\n<p>However, the RNC has urged caution regarding this rapid distribution. In a letter dated September 18 addressed to Montgomery County officials, they asserted that distributing ballots without completing necessary equipment testing violates state law. The RNC insists all voting systems must undergo thorough testing after proper notification before any ballots are sent out.<\/p>\n<p>RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated that voters deserve transparency about why these ballots were distributed without prior testing and need assurance regarding their proper counting process. He described this situation as an unacceptable violation of electoral integrity and indicated that legal actions could follow.<\/p>\n<p>The RNC has requested an immediate halt to all mail-in ballot distributions until all required tests are completed; additionally, any already distributed ballots should be set aside upon return for manual counting arrangements if necessary.<\/p>\n<p>Kate Delano from the Montgomery County District Attorney\u2019s Office confirmed they take reports seriously but did not have specific information about complaints made through their tip line.<\/p>\n<p>In response to inquiries from The Federalist regarding compliance with regulations surrounding ballot acceptance testing prior to printing or mailing them out\u2014and subsequent logic and accuracy tests\u2014the county maintained its adherence to state laws while encouraging voters who requested mail-in ballots not yet received.<\/p>\n<p>Despite receiving no response from Montgomery County officials concerning its letter outlining concerns over compliance with legal requirements related specifically to pre-election procedures involving ballot distribution\u2014the RNC proceeded with court action aimed at ensuring adherence by local authorities following allegations outlined within their complaint filed in court against those responsible for overseeing elections there during critical periods leading up towards November\u2019s general elections across America including battleground states like PA where voter turnout will play pivotal roles determining outcomes nationwide amidst ongoing political tensions surrounding various issues affecting citizens today including economic recovery efforts post-pandemic among others impacting daily lives significantly throughout communities everywhere alike!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":2345186,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/JunkMail-.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[41587,5836,6915],"class_list":["post-2345185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ballot-test","tag-pennsylvania","tag-rnc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/JunkMail-.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2345185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2345185"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2345185\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2345186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2345185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2345185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2345185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}