BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. — Update, 3:40 p.m.: A Pennsylvania judge has sided with Donald Trump’s campaign and agreed to extend an in-person voting option in suburban Philadelphia, the Associated Press reported Wednesday afternoon.
The order came Wednesday after long lines on Tuesday caused voters to complain that they were being disenfranchised by an unprepared election office.
Judge Jeffrey Trauger said in a one-page order that Bucks County voters who want to apply for an early mail ballot now have until Friday.
Neighboring Lehigh County on Tuesday asked a judge to extend the deadline there by one day, through Wednesday. The judge agreed.
Previously
Campaign leaders for former President Donald Trump have filed a lawsuit against Bucks County, claiming that voters seeking mail-in ballots were turned away at the polls in "a direct violation of Pennsylvanians' rights to cast their ballot," the campaign said in a press release.
"All voters have a right to stay in line," the campaign press release said.
According to the Trump-Vance campaign, voters were turned away while trying to get mail-in ballots on Tuesday, the last day they were able to request them.
"The Pennsylvania Department of State made clear if voters are in line at a county elections office by 5:00PM, the counties MUST give voters the opportunity to apply for their mail-in ballot," the campaign said. "Pennsylvania voters were turned away as early as 2:30PM.
"This is against the law. This is voter suppression from the left. We will fight for every legal vote in Pennsylvania. Go vote, and stay in line!"
A Bucks County spokesperson told CBS News that the line for the on-demand process was cut at about 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, but the county continued accepting applications for mail-in ballots until 5 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Department of State had asked every county to ensure every voter who was in line by 5 p.m. could at least fill out and submit an application for a mail-in ballot.
In a post on his social media platform Wednesday, Trump alluded to "cheating" in Pennsylvania, but offered no specifics.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro issued a statement responding to Trump's allegations on Wednesday, accusing the former president of using "the same playbook" he did in 2020, when he attempted to overturn the election results in the Commonwealth.
"Republican and Democratic clerks of elections are doing their jobs here in Pennsylvania – and together with law enforcement, they’re making sure only eligible voters are able to register and vote," Shapiro said. "We will again have a free and fair, safe and secure election — and the will of the people will be respected."
Voters who have a mail-in ballot but weren't able to cast it on demand should return the completed ballot to a drop box, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said.
With Election Day drawing near on Nov. 5, Schmidt said it's best for voters to hand-deliver mail-in ballots to a drop box at their local election office.