What good reason did Schuylkill County election officials have to block photographers from taking photos or recording video inside the local ballot counting headquarters on Election Night?
According to a report from the RepublicanHerald newspaper, county officials say “fears of possible litigation in a contentious election year” prompted the decision to ban photographers from being inside the STS headquarters in Saint Clair, where ballots are traditionally counted on Election Night.
The RepublicanHerald says Election Board solicitor Chris Hobbs said their decision was made based on advice from the Pennsylvania Dept. of State, which oversees elections statewide.
Schuylkill County Bans Media Photographer from Ballot Counting Room
Ironically, it’s the Pennsylvania Dept. of State currently facing litigation for its management of the 2020 General Election statewide. President Trump still contends that he’s won Pennsylvania and several other states. And he’s banking on several lawsuits filed in battleground states to reverse the projected winner there.
Trump won the vote in Schuylkill County by a comfortable margin.
That’s also the same department that’s facing intense scrutiny. Numerous public officials, including State Sen. Dave Argall, have called on Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar to resign for last-minute and unconstitutional rules changes to the election process.
And this is the person Schuylkill County took advice from on how to run its election process.
The county told the RepublicanHerald that it worried about a photographer potentially recording sensitive information on a ballot or an envelope. Schuylkill County also said it implemented the policy to treat all media and “candidate representatives” the same. The local daily paper of record in Schuykill County has traditionally had a photographer present inside the ballot counting area for decades.
Schuylkill County government and the media have had a contentious relationship in 2020. This is only the latest clash.
Just about a month ago, the County Commissioners banned recording of public meetings held over Zoom, despite it being a clear violation of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act.
ALSO READ:
- County Defends Election Workers from Attack That Never Happened
- Schuylkill County Completes Ballot Counting – Vote Analysis
- Trump Campaign Lawsuit Says Pennsylvania Voting Process Unconstitutional
- Meuser Says Wolf Administration Compromised Public Trust in Election
- Argall Calls for PA Secretary of State to Resign Amid Election Fallout
- 2020 General Election Results for Schuylkill County
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Stephanie Seiger
November 17, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Its been 2 weeks and my provisional ballot has yet to be counted and recorded. What gives?
Canary Commenter
November 17, 2020 at 2:32 pm
You should call the County Election Bureau.
PTFloridians
November 18, 2020 at 7:57 pm
PA, as well as other Dem controlled states have employed thousands of lawyers and fenangled election law and procedures, solely for this purpose. To create chaos, uncertainty and ultimately fraud on a large scale. Boockvar is another rotten tomato, Leftist fool. The house of cards that they have built, is about to fall…it was the only chance they had.