Threats hinder vote counts

While the nation watched and waited for election results from the swing state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, state and local officials were dealing with bomb threats, ballot errors and fire alarms, among more than a dozen other incidents that threatened to wreak havoc on Election Day activities across the state.

Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Cameron and Chester counties were among several reporting possible bomb threats.

In Blair County, a bomb threat at the Blair County Elections and Voter Registration Office forced precinct workers to deliver ballots to the Blair County Convention Center, delaying the official count.

A news release stated that the county Board of Elections convened at 7 a.m. Tuesday to begin the process of canvassing mail-in ballots.

"The process went smoothly," the statement said, until about 6:50 p.m., when the county received a bomb threat affecting the elections office.

Emergency protocols were enacted, with Blair County Commissioner Laura Burke and solicitor Chris Furman remaining at the office to maintain custody of the mail-in ballots.

The mail-in canvassing resumed once the building was cleared by the sheriff's office K-9 unit, the release stated.

Police presence was heavy at the convention center, with state police and sheriff's deputies barring anyone who was not a county official or poll worker from entering the building. A media staging area was designated across the street from the back entrance to comply with election regulations.

All but one precinct delivered their ballots to the convention center in a timely manner. Antis Township was the lone holdout and at 10 p.m., Blair County Commissioner Amy Webster said they were still waiting for those election materials.

"They had so many folks that were in line at eight that were allowed to vote, that they were not able to actually close until 9:31," Webster explained. The poll could not close until those in line by 8 p.m. voted.

While waiting for the last of the ballots to arrive, poll workers loaded the ones they had into the back of a Blair County trailer to haul to the elections office for processing.

Voting extended in Clearfield County

In Clearfield County, the bomb threat had election officials seeking and receiving permission to extend voting until 9 p.m. after the county solicitor made an oral motion for emergency special relief, according to court documents. The bomb threat was made at the Clearfield County Administration Building where votes were being counted, court documents state.

During a press conference Tuesday night, Gov. Josh Shapiro said multiple bomb threats had been called in to polling locations across the state, but said there appeared to be no threat to the public.

"My team and I have been in direct communications with Pennsylvania State Police Colonel Christopher Paris who is coordinating with local and federal law enforcement, as well as PEMA. State and local law enforcement, along with the FBI, are investigating these threats and thus far, there is no credible threat to the public," Shapiro said.

The FBI released a statement on the bomb threats, stating that the bureau was "aware of bomb threats at polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," the statement reads, adding "election integrity is among the FBI's highest priorities. We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote."

Print errors, fire alarms

In Cambria County, elections officials learned early in the morning that ballots were not printed correctly and implemented an emergency protocol, seeking a court order to extend voting hours until 10 p.m. and sending sheriff deputies to Pittsburgh to order new ballots and then return and distribute those ballots. (See related story, Page A5)

During a press conference Tuesday evening, Cambria County commissioners worked to clarify misinformation and assure residents that every vote would be counted correctly.

"We've taken every step possible to ensure that every vote is going to be counted here today," said county solicitor Ron Repak.

While Cambria County elections officials were dealing with ballots that wouldn't scan, some voters in Allegheny County were contending with intermittent fire alarm testing — until the court ordered the testing to stop.

Among a number of court filings made on election day in Allegheny County, the Moon Area High School was ordered and decreed to immediately cease all inspections and testing of fire alarms for the day until all voting was completed.

Two Moon-area precincts — 00-07 and 00-14 — were located in the Moon Area High School, according to the court documents, which also stated the sheriff was given the authority to deliver and serve the order to the school district's main offices, 8353 University Blvd., Moon Township.

The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office was also called in to remove signs from polling locations in the 44th Legislative District, where signs were posted stating that "Democrat Hadley Haas has failed to file the required public finance reports which tells citizens who is funding her campaign."

The signs were created to look like public notices from the Department of State and also stated that "breaking campaign finance laws is a serious matter. Reject Haas and her out of state dark money fueled campaign."

A note at the bottom of the signs said they were "paid for by Driving Education Science & Knowledge PAC."

The misleading signs were posted at 10 polling locations in the 44th Legislative District and, after they were ordered to be removed and weren't by 3:47 p.m., the sheriff was ordered to remove the signs and place them in the evidence room, according to court documents.

Also in Allegheny County, it was alleged that three unknown individuals were blocking the entrance to the polling place at Quentin Roosevelt School, 200 The Boulevard St., Pittsburgh. The sheriff's office was authorized "to investigate and to arrest any persons and bring them to Elections Court for a hearing."

Election board issues

In asking the court for permission to use county employees as local election board clerks in Allegheny County due to a number of vacancies in boards throughout that county, it was noted that Tuesday morning election officials were notified by several board members that they were unable or unwilling to serve, court documents in that case state. Allegheny County has 1,327 individual election districts, it was noted.

Allegheny County officials also sought court approval to use Health Department employees to assist with vote pre-canvas and canvas, as the county received an estimated 225,000 mail-in/absentee ballots.

A court order was also sought and received in Allegheny County after poll watchers on behalf of the Democratic Party or Democratic Party candidates were wearing "Voter Protection" badges inside polling places, leading to confusion from voters. They were ordered to remove their badges while inside all polling places in Allegheny County, as poll watchers are prohibited from apparel supporting any party, court documents state.

Luzerne County was not without its own problems, too, as the polling location in Laflin Borough did not open until 8:30 a.m., causing voters who arrived early to leave. That polling location was ordered to remain open until 9:30 p.m. so voters could return to fill out their ballots.

In Fayette County, the Washington Township Judge of Election, Vincent Manetta, said that he was going to remove the ballots from the ballot box and audit or hand count the votes cast for the presidential race. Manetta allegedly was going to wait for the polls to close and then undertake his own hand counting of the race, despite being informed by that county's solicitor that he could not do so.

In this case, Marybeth Kuznik, director of the Fayette County Election Bureau, sought and received a court-issued mandamus that Manetta perform his duties as outlined by the law. If he failed to comply, the court ordered the Sheriff's Department to escort a poll worker and the election materials from the Washington Township precinct to the Fayette County Election Bureau promptly after the polls closed.