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Pennsylvania Judge Denies Centre County GOP Request To Disqualify Undated or Misdated Mail-In Ballots

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Pennsylvania Judge Denies Centre County GOP Request To Disqualify Undated or Misdated Mail-In Ballots


WASHINGTON D.C. — A Pennsylvania judge today rejected a request from Centre County GOP Chair Michelle Schellberg and local voters to disqualify nearly 100 mail-in ballots cast in the state’s April 23 primary election with misdated or undated outer envelopes. 

The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed earlier this month in which Schellberg and individual voters alleged that the Centre County Board of Elections wrongly decided to include 95 ballots in the county’s vote tally with dates that were imprecise or missing altogether. The lawsuit additionally sought to prevent the board from counting undated or misdated mail-in ballots in all future elections.

In today’s order, Judge Julia R. Rater dismissed the county GOP’s legal action on the grounds that Schellberg and the voters filed their petition too late after the board’s April 25 decision to count the 95 undated or misdated ballots. Without reaching the merits of the case, Rater concluded that under state law, the petitioners would have needed to file their appeal of the board’s decision by April 27 or May 2 at the very latest. 

“The Appeal was not filed until May 7, 2024. As such, it is untimely,” Rater’s order reads. 

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 Although the 95 contested ballots did not stand to materially affect Centre County’s primary election outcomes, they nonetheless resulted in the county postponing certification of its results as the litigation played out. Following today’s ruling, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt (D) is expected to certify the statewide primary election results — a process that was held up due to Centre County’s certification delay.  

According to the now-dismissed GOP lawsuit, a 2022 decision from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and 2023 decision from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals preclude Pennsylvania counties from counting mail-in ballots with outer return envelopes that are undated or incorrectly dated. 

On the other hand, the Centre County Board of Elections argued that the “Pennsylvania Supreme Court left untouched the county boards of elections’ authority to determine whether a ballot’s outer envelope is correctly dated.” 

The board also maintained that Schellberg and her co-petitioners brought their legal action too late after its members decided to count the ballots, thereby foreclosing the challenge under state law. In addition to agreeing with this argument in today’s order, Rater maintained that “even if Petitioners’ Appeal could be construed as a petition for an election contest”— as opposed to an appeal of the board’s decision — “it would be fatally deficient leaving the Court without jurisdiction to decide the matter.”

Rater further acknowledged the urgency of finalizing the state’s certification of its primary election results, reasoning that she must dismiss the appeal so as to “avoid any confusion or potential further delays.” In an amicus brief in support of the Centre County Board of Elections, Schmidt and the Pennsylvania Department of State previously urged the court to dismiss the petition in order to allow the secretary to “perform his duty and finally certify the 2024 primary.” 

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Centre County was not the only Pennsylvania County beset by legal challenges over mail-in ballots in the wake of the state’s April 23 primary. Litigation is ongoing in a case out of Butler County, where the board of elections refused to allow voters to cure mail-in ballots that were missing inner secrecy envelopes. 

Read the order here.

Learn more about the case here.



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Heat advisory issued for Pennsylvania for Tuesday

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Heat advisory issued for Pennsylvania for Tuesday


On Sunday at 3:47 a.m. a heat advisory was issued by the National Weather Service valid for Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. for Carbon, Monroe, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties.

“Heat index values up to 103 degrees expected,” states the weather service. “This is the start of a prolonged period of excessive heat with high temperatures in the mid to upper 90s through the week. The early season heat combined with the prolonged nature of the heat may cause heat related impacts that exceed anticipate heat illnesses or on heat sensitive infrastructure normally associated with a Heat Advisory.”

“Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events,” says the weather service.

Hot weather safety: Weather service tips for staying safe and healthy

  • Stay hydrated: Remember to drink plenty of fluids.
  • Seek shelter: Stay indoors in an air-conditioned room to keep cool.
  • Avoid sun exposure: Avoid direct sun exposure, protect yourself and check on vulnerable relatives and neighbors.
  • Child and pet safety: Never leave young children and pets unattended in hot vehicles – car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
  • Caution outdoors: Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside.
  • Optimal timing: If possible, move strenuous activities to early morning or evening for more favorable conditions.
  • Recognize heat-related issues: Recognize the warning signs and familiarize yourself with symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
  • Dress comfortably: Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing to stay cool.

Additional tips for outdoor workers:

  • For outdoor workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends regular rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
  • If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
  • In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety recommendations are vital for your well-being during periods of high temperatures. Stay informed and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others from the heat’s potentially dangerous effects.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Karen L. Esposito, Farrell, PA

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Karen L. Esposito, Farrell, PA


FARRELL, Pennsylvania (MyValleyTributes) – Karen L. Esposito, of Farrell, Pennsylvania, entered eternal rest on Thursday, June 6, 2024, while a patient in the Trumbull Memorial Health Care Center, Warren, Ohio, following an extended illness. She was 68.

Karen was born August 25, 1955, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Albert H. and Thelma I. (Duffy) Christy, Sr.

She was a 1973 graduate from Sharon High School and had worked as a custodian in the area schools. In addition, she helped her husband maintain the Lions Club in Farrell.

In her spare time, she enjoyed drawing and gardening. Moreover, she loved spending time with her sisters.

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Survivors include: son, Donald (Becky) Letcher; step-son, Shawn Esposito; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Linda Bowser, Janet Phillips and Cindy Porterfield; as well as her extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Benjamin “Skate” Esposito, who passed on December 26, 2023; daughter, Jennifer Allshouse; son, Howard Letcher and eight siblings.

In accordance with her wishes, no calling hours or services will be held.

Arrangements have been handled by Briceland Funeral Service.

Expressions of sympathy may be left for her family at www.bricelandfuneralservice.com

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Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to the Shenango Valley Animal Shelter, 2599 Broadway Rd., Hermitage, Pennsylvania 16148.

Coordination of this tribute for Ms. Karen was presented by Daniel Briceland, Owner & Director of Briceland Funeral Service, LLC, Brookfield, Ohio 44403. (330-509-3135)

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Karen L. Esposito, please visit our flower store.

A television tribute will air Sunday, June 16 at the following approximate times: 8:58 a.m. on WKBN and 7:58 p.m. on FOX. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

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