Pennsylvania voters deserve to have their voices heard | Gov. Ed Rendell

This year, millions of voters in Pennsylvania cast their ballots in the 2024 election, exercising their democratic right to make their choice known about the elected leaders they want to represent them.

Following this election, workers have been performing their duty to tabulate the ballots cast, a process that is executed for every election and every race held in the commonwealth. Unfortunately we see that some have decided that they don't want Pennsylvanians' voices to be heard.

U.S. Senate candidate David McCormick's campaign filed a lawsuit to challenge potentially thousands of ballots in Philadelphia, saying that these ballots could "impact ... the outcome of the election." This lawsuit is alarming and a clear example of individuals working to prevent voters from being heard in hopes of getting their preferred outcome.

The results can't be determined until counties can finish tabulating ballots. It is concerning that a candidate asking for Pennsylvanians' votes would seek to block their ballots from being included in an election. All candidates should be interested in ensuring that counties have the time they need to finish this critical process.

As of noon Sunday, Nov. 10, almost 7 million Pennsylvanians who have casted their votes have had their votes counted. Mr. McCormick is leading by a margin of just under 40,000 votes. There are more than 100,000 votes outstanding and uncounted (including provisional votes), many of which come from strongly Democratic counties.

I served as the Mayor of Philadelphia and 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. As governor, I oversaw the safety and security of our elections.

I can assure anyone reading this that this commonwealth conducts our elections in a manner that is above reproach. There can be no room for intimidation from those that would wish to unfairly affect the outcome.

Let me be clear - Pennsylvanians deserve to be heard. That is true in every election and it is even more important when individuals seek to disrupt the process.

Tabulating votes takes time and we have to be patient with that process. Our elections are safe and secure. If there is any question about legitimate votes, ballots are examined by the county to determine if the vote should be counted. This process occurs after every election and it is what Pennsylvania voters deserve.

We have great citizens in every county in the commonwealth that are working to do their job to deliver the accurate results that we always have. They must be able to give the citizens of Pennsylvania the enfranchisement that they deserve.

Pennsylvania is the birthplace of democracy and it's where we're going to continue protecting every Pennsylvanians' right to have their voices heard.