Report: GOP Election Officials Forcibly Removed in Philadelphia

Lachlan Markay /

Reports from Philadelphia polling places Tuesday morning claim that poll officials have been turned away and forcibly removed for partisan reasons.

The Pennsylvania Republican Party filed a complaint with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas claiming that 75 GOP officials were “prohibited…from accessing polling places in heavily Democratic areas in Philadelphia.”

“Incidents ranged from judges of elections refusing to seat Republican Minority Inspectors and Clerks, to reports of Democratic election operatives announcing that ‘No Republicans will be allowed in the polling place,'” according to a news release.

The Washington Examiner’s Paul Bedard reported that at least one Republican inspector “was physically thrown out,” according to a GOP official.

The Court issued an order reinstating Republican officials at a host of Philadelphia polling places.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Tom Fitzgerald reported that GOP officials were expelled or turned away in the following Philadelphia divisions: