Fact check: Trump and allies make allegations of ‘cheating’ in Pennsylvania election

With less than a week until Election Day, former President Donald Trump and his allies are facing multiple allegations of fraud or misconduct in the battleground state of Pennsylvania — and while some isolated issues have emerged, election officials are pushing back on any suggestion that there are deliberate efforts underway to suppress the vote .

On Tuesday, Trump escalated those claims, baselessly accusing the state in a social media post of “cheating and busting on a grand scale.”

Here’s a deeper look at some of the claims.

Woman arrested in Delaware County?

Late Monday evening, members of the Trump campaign sent out an email claiming that a voter in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was “arrested for encouraging people to stay in line and vote” after election officials allegedly ordered voters to leave the country and that way they “actively suppressed” the operation of their right to vote. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley also shared video of the incident on social media, claiming a “supporter of President Trump” was removed.

In a statement, Delaware County denied the claims and praised local election officials, saying multiple eyewitnesses characterized the woman as “disruptive, belligerent and attempting to influence voters waiting in line.”

The statement said the behavior led to several complaints, to which the Delaware County Police providing security on site responded.

In an updated statement Wednesday, county officials said the woman “did not line up for any service,” remained in the lobby for nearly two hours and “approached various people,” prompting the complaints. Park police then “gave her verbal instructions on appropriate behavior and allowed her to remain in the lobby,” the statement said, and after additional complaints, she was asked to leave but “was refused.”

The county said the case “remains an active criminal investigation.”

“We take voting rights in Delaware County very seriously,” said Delaware County Board Chairwoman Dr. Monica Taylor. “Voters have the right to participate in our democracy without being harassed or intimidated, which is why we applaud our park police for calming the disturbances and allowing voting to continue without disruption.”

The woman later appeared in a social media video with Whatley and said, “I was trying to get the vote out,” but was arrested “for exercising my First Amendment right.”

A county spokesman said the woman was “briefly detained and cited for disorderly conduct.”

Registration fraud in Lancaster and York counties?

On social media, Trump personally raised allegations of voter fraud in Lancaster and York counties.

In one sense, the former president is right – Lancaster County officials said they prevented what could have been potential voter registration fraud. However, on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Lancaster County was “caught” with fraudulent ballots and forms – a distortion of the example held up by officials in Pennsylvania as an example of their security systems working properly.

ABC News previously reported that officials in Lancaster County said they had prevented potential cases of voter registration fraud in the weeks before the presidential election. The Lancaster County Board of Elections said in a statement that about 2,500 suspected fraudulent voter registration applications were delivered to the elections office in two batches before the registration deadline. The board said “concerns were raised” during the normal review process and law enforcement was alerted.

Notably, the commission said in its statement that fraud had been “identified and contained” and praised the incident as evidence that the electoral system “is secure.”

“Our system worked,” management said. “We will continue to operate with the highest levels of truthfulness, honesty and transparency so Lancaster County voters can have confidence in our elections.”

Trump also said in his post that York County also received “THOUSANDS” of possibly fraudulent registrations and ballot applications.

However, in a statement, York County officials said they were still investigating. The York County commissioner confirmed that he had received a “large shipment” of registration forms and mail-in ballot applications and that he was in the process of reviewing their legality.

The statement said authorities would be notified if fraud was detected.

“We are committed to ensuring the integrity and security of our elections,” York County Commissioner Julie Wheeler said in a statement.

People removed from lines in Bucks County?

On Wednesday, a Pennsylvania judge quickly granted the Trump campaign’s request and ordered a three-day extension of the in-person absentee voting deadline in Bucks County through the end of the day on Friday, November 1.

The campaign only asked for a one-day extension. The deadline was Tuesday at 5 p.m

In his one-page order, Judge Jeffrey Trauger wrote that the county violated Pennsylvania’s election code after “rejecting voters who wanted to apply for and receive an absentee ballot in person before the deadline.”

He ordered the county to allow anyone who wants to “request, receive, vote and return an absentee ballot” before the close of business on Friday.

The ruling was a victory for the RNC and the Trump campaign, which filed a lawsuit against the Bucks County Board of Elections and others seeking a one-day extension of the deadline to request an absentee ballot, alleging that voters were “turned away” and forced by security to leave premises” when attempting to apply for an absentee ballot in person.

The lawsuit included signed affidavits from three people who say they were dismissed Tuesday afternoon.

“In Bucks County, we believe strongly in voter enfranchisement,” county officials said in a statement after the ruling. “In line with today’s court ruling, we are pleased to be able to offer additional days to those who still wish to vote by request.”

Multiple Trump allies posted video Tuesday afternoon that they say shows law enforcement closing the polling line at a Bucks County polling place before 3 p.m., even though the line was supposed to be open until 5 p.m.

Viral social media posts – garnering hundreds of thousands of views – followed a few local reports documented long lines and officials cutting off lines in Bucks County, leading to some frustration among voters and prominent Republicans alike.

In a statement Tuesday, county officials rejected any suggestion that what happened in Bucks County constituted deliberate voter suppression as Trump’s allies have alleged, saying: “Despite what is being portrayed on social media, if you agree, by 5:00 p.m. If you request a mail-in ballot upon request, you will have the opportunity to request a mail-in ballot.”

“The ballot will then be sent to the voter by post or can be collected by him later this week,” the statement reads.

The county admitted there were indeed “misunderstandings” by officials on site. People waiting in line to vote by request “were briefly informed that they could not be accommodated,” the county said, but added that they were ultimately allowed to submit their applications.

In a post on X, the Secretary of State’s office repeated that sentiment, asking voters to be “patient.”

“Earlier today, we spoke with Bucks County elections officials who assured us that any registered voter who goes to their county election office by 5 p.m. today will have the opportunity to request an absentee ballot,” it reads. in the post. “We ask for patience with all county election office workers as they work hard to ensure every registered voter can vote in this election.”

Overall, a Bucks County spokesman said these issues reflect the reality and confusion surrounding so-called “early voting” in the state: Unlike some other states, Pennsylvania does not have a set “early voting” period… instead allowing in-person voting upon request , during which voters can go to a polling place, request a ballot, fill it out and return it on the spot.

“The Electoral Commission office is not a polling station. In-person ballots mailed upon request do not constitute early voting. This service is offered to voters as a courtesy because we have the equipment to do so,” county spokesman James O Malley he told the Pennsylvania Star..

“We are happy to accommodate as many voters as possible, but the fact remains that this is not a polling place and our staff must have time to fulfill other duties necessary to conduct the election,” O’Malley said.