Beth Hopkins

After a preliminary hearing Monday, a magisterial district judge sent election fraud charges against Michael Sico to county court for further action. His mother, Kathie Sico, waived her right to a preliminary hearing on the same charges last month.

Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said the office is investigating whether a judge of elections wrote her name on paper ballots handed to voters to win re-election to the job.

The county Bureau of Elections sent 545 mail-in ballots from the 2024 primary election instead of the upcoming primary. County blames a printing company error.

Secretary of State Al Schmidt says earlier application also simpler to use