### Pennsylvania Early Voting Process Draws Criticism Amid Long Lines and Claims of "Election Interference"

In the battleground state of Pennsylvania, supporters of former President Donald Trump are crying foul over what they describe as "election interference," due to extended wait times for early voting. Voters in Doylestown, the county seat of Bucks County near Philadelphia, reportedly faced up to three-hour waits on the final day to apply for an in-person mail ballot, according to CBS News and the Associated Press.

Early voting in Pennsylvania, which carries 19 electoral votes, is crucial in what appears to be a close race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Bucks County officials attributed the delays to a labor-intensive "on-demand mail ballot voting" system, which has seen a significant uptick in participation this year, particularly among Republicans.

In 2019, Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled legislature enacted a unique early voting law. Under this system, registered voters can visit their county elections office to request a mail ballot, which is then printed following an application review. Voters can fill out and submit their ballots during the same visit or return them later by mail or drop box. However, because the process takes approximately 10 to 12 minutes per voter, sizable queues formed.

Bob Harvie, Chairman of the Bucks County Board of Elections, explained the situation to CBS News, emphasizing the resource limitations faced by the county. "It is a very cumbersome process. We don't have limitless resources here. We have a fixed number of staff. We have a fixed budget," Harvie said.

Videos circulating on social media have heightened tensions, showing election officers allegedly cutting off lines prematurely and sparking accusations of voter suppression. James Blair, the political director for Trump's campaign, posted a video on X (formerly known as Twitter) condemning the situation as "suppressive and intimidating." Karoline Leavitt, the campaign's press secretary, also weighed in, urging voters not to leave the queue during posted operating hours.

A particularly contentious video showed an officer informing voters in Quakertown that the line had to be cut off at 1:45 p.m. due to the slow and arduous process. Trump supporters have claimed the early cut-offs are aimed at reducing Republican votes, albeit without verification from independent sources.

In response to the backlash, the Bucks County government reiterated that any voter in line by 5 p.m. would be accommodated. The Pennsylvania Department of State confirmed its ongoing communication with county election offices to ensure that all voters in line by the deadline could submit their applications.

The Republican National Committee has issued a letter to Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, urging swift action to address widespread issues reported across the state, such as malfunctioning computers and early closure of polling sites. Schmidt acknowledged the concerns in a recent briefing and called for patience from voters amid the high volume of mail ballot requests.

Despite the operational challenges, both state and county election officials have reiterated their commitment to ensuring every eligible voter's ability to participate in the election.