NOV 09, V7N- Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate David McCormick, a Republican, has filed a request in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas to challenge provisional ballots en masse in his race against Democratic incumbent Bob Casey. This request comes as the counting of roughly 15,000 to 20,000 provisional ballots in Philadelphia—a Democratic stronghold—is set to begin. McCormick currently leads Casey by about 34,600 votes statewide, with 98% of the vote counted, prompting the Associated Press to project his victory. However, Casey's campaign maintains that the race remains too close to call.

McCormick’s lead is within the margin for an automatic recount, which would occur if the race’s final margin is within half a percentage point. Provisional ballots are typically issued when voter eligibility is in question, with the validity of these ballots reviewed after Election Day. McCormick's filing argues for the right to challenge provisional ballots with similar issues en masse, stating that the large volume could overwhelm Republican officials if challenged individually.

In a related request, McCormick has asked the court to separate provisional ballots cast by voters whose mail-in or absentee ballots were initially rejected due to errors like missing secrecy envelopes. Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court previously ruled that these ballots should be counted, but the Republican Party has appealed this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has yet to take up the case. McCormick’s efforts seek to ensure these ballots remain uncounted pending further court rulings.

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