After the Allegheny County Board of Elections unanimously approved six ballot drop-off locations for the 2024 primary, a Republican member withdrew a lawsuit he filed last week against the board.
Samuel DeMarco III, a Republican member of the Allegheny County Council and Board of Elections, and several Republican voters brought the lawsuit, supported by the right-wing legal group Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE).
The lawsuit challenged the decision to open five drop-off locations, alleging that the decision was made behind closed doors in violation of Pennsylvania law.
The plaintiffs claimed that County Executive Sara Innamorato acted unilaterally and did not allow for public comment, violating Pennsylvania law. They sought to block the county’s use of drop-off locations.
However, just four days after the lawsuit was filed, the parties reached an agreement, stipulating that the lawsuit would be dismissed if the board members held a vote to approve the drop-off locations during their March 20 meeting.
During the meeting, voters testified to the importance of having accessible drop-off locations, particularly since the state’s primary falls on the Jewish holiday of Passover. Many voters emphasized that they would not be able to vote without these drop-off locations.
Following the testimony, the board unanimously approved the five geographically diverse drop-off locations and added the location in McKeesport, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
This decision was hailed as a victory for democracy and Allegheny County voters, despite Republicans’ attempts to block the use of drop-off locations.
U.S. Representative Summer Lee, who represents Allegheny County in Congress, praised the vote as a win for democracy and criticized Pennsylvania Republicans for their efforts to limit access to ballot drop-off locations.
