The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania has called for an investigation following a voter roll error in Chester County that prevented thousands of third party and unaffiliated voters from appearing in poll books on Election Day.
County officials said Tuesday morning that the names of third party and unaffiliated voters were missing from all precinct poll books when polls opened. Voter Services said supplemental poll books were being delivered to all 230 polling locations and that affected voters could cast provisional ballots until the issue was corrected. The Pennsylvania Department of State later described the matter as a printing error.
In a November 5 statement, the party said the incident “had the possibility of disenfranchising tens of thousands of eligible voters” after Chester County’s Department of Voter Services distributed the incomplete books. The party acknowledged the work of county officials and poll workers who acted quickly to correct the problem but described it as unacceptable and contended “voters deserve answers, not excuses.”
“We commend the Chester County Board of Elections for their dedication and the long hours they’ve invested in this election, but appreciation cannot replace accountability,” said Greg Deal, chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. “The distribution of incorrect voter rolls and the shortage of provisional ballots are serious failures that undermine public confidence in the process.”
State Department figures show Chester County had 385,849 registered voters going into the November 4 municipal election, including roughly 75,000 not affiliated with the Republican and Democratic parties. Of those voters, 2,013 are registered Libertarians.
The statement cited both the Pennsylvania Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1983 Anderson v. Celebrezze decision, arguing that equal access to the ballot is a constitutional right that “transcends party affiliation.” It called for “a full, immediate, and transparent investigation” into the cause of the error.
The party further reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of all voters regardless of party affiliation and urged that Pennsylvania elections “remain truly free and equal.” It also called on other county boards across the state to review their procedures to prevent similar problems in future elections.
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