Updated: Judge Agrees with Trump Campaign On Demand Mail In Ballot Deadline Extended Until Friday, County Releases Statement

Updated Wednesday 5:30 p.m.  Bucks County provided a statement to Lower Bucks Source at about 5:20 p.m. (**Please see below for the full statement) 

***A Bucks County Judge on Wednesday sided with Donald Trump’s campaign and agreed to extend an in-person voting option for those allegedly turned away on Tuesday.

The new on demand Mail In Ballot Deadline extended until Friday end of business. Voters can apply for, receive, vote, and return a mail-in ballot at the Bucks County Board of Elections Offices, including the Government Services Center in Levittown as ordered by Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Trauger.

The former president’s campaign filed the lawsuit in the Bucks County Wednesday in hopes of briefly extending an in-person voting hours where long lines on the final day to receive mail in ballots led to complaints that voters were being disenfranchised by unprepared county election officials and office.

Credit: Bucks County Public Access system.

The lawsuit, comes amid complaints in the battleground state that is expected to play crucial role in determining the next president of the United States.

The lawsuit is sought just a a one-day extension, through Wednesday at 5 p.m. Trauger went further then the Trump campaign requested.

The lawsuit said people who were in line by Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline to apply in-person for a mail ballot should have been allowed to receive a ballot, even after the deadline. Voters said they waited for three hours and were told to go home, the lawsuit alleged.

The Trump Campaign called the ruling a significant win for the former president.

The Shapiro administration  has told counties to allow every voter who was in line by the 5 p.m. deadline to submit a mail-in ballot application. Responding to reports  and claims on social media Tuesday, Bucks County said every voter in line by 5 p.m. Tuesday would be allowed to apply for a ballot, saying misinformation is  the real culprit  of the problem.

Republican Senate nominee David McCormick and the Republican National Committee joined the lawsuit against the county also.

It was only days ago in which a fake video was posted to social media where a fake employee is seen shredding mail- in ballot votes for Trump. The video was taken down by the social media sites it was on. On Friday Federal investigators said the video was the handiwork of the Russians.

Voters in Line at Levittown Govt Services site where mail-in ballots can be dropped off or requested
Credit: Joanne Ames Lower Bucks Source

Trump has openly, and  publicly criticized mail in voting repeatedly since he lost his reelection bid in 2020 often times blaming the process for the loss.  Its only in recent weeks where he’s told voters to vote by mail if necessary sending a mixed message to supporters. 

Pennsylvania, among the remaining battle ground states has the most electoral votes up for grabs (19).  Bucks County, like many other counties in the commonwealth , empowers voters with the ability to apply for  a mail-in ballot in-person at predetermined locations. Voters receive the mail in ballot there and hand it in.

The Trump campaign in 2020 was o-48 in court cases filed challenging mail in voting, among other issues it cited. In 2024 they 1-0.!

The county government is majority controlled by Democrats.

***Bucks County  provided the following statement Wednesday afternoon in reaction to Trauger’s ruling:

In Bucks County, we believe strongly in voter enfranchisement. This administration has spent the last five years in office working tirelessly to make it easier for people to vote via whatever method they choose – whether by mail, on-demand or at the polls.

In accordance with today’s court ruling, we are pleased to be able to offer additional days for those who are still seeking to vote on-demand. Our Board of Elections Office will be open during regular business hours through Nov. 1 for voters who wish to apply for, receive, and return an on-demand mail-in ballot.

We are thankful to our Board of Elections staff for their professionalism, and we ask that County residents extend to them consideration, understanding and kindness while they do the important work of conducting a free and fair election.

This administration continues to ask the Pennsylvania General Assembly for much needed reform and clarity in the election law and to codify what is being decided in courts around the Commonwealth.

Democrats in the last two presidential election cycles have won Bucks County,