Bucks County, Pennsylvania, found itself at the center of yet another election controversy this week, highlighting what many see as the crumbling respect for the rule of law in modern governance.

The uproar stems from a decision by Democratic Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia and another Bucks County official to count misdated and undated ballots—directly contradicting a ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Adding fuel to the fire, Ellis-Marseglia defended her actions last week with a shocking remark: “People violate laws any time they want.” This cavalier attitude toward legal adherence is emblematic of the ongoing erosion of accountability in institutions once trusted to safeguard the democratic process.

At a Wednesday Board of Elections meeting, Ellis-Marseglia backpedaled, claiming her comments were taken “out of context.” She stated that her remarks pertained specifically to provisional ballots and missing signatures. While she did offer an apology, the damage was already done. Her statement, whether intentional or not, laid bare a disturbing mindset: laws are optional if they don’t align with one’s agenda.

Her apology rang hollow for many, especially as the Bucks County GOP held a news conference earlier that day to express their outrage. GOP Chair Pat Poprik didn’t mince words, calling Ellis-Marseglia’s actions and comments “a travesty.” Poprik captured the growing frustration among voters, saying, “If you don’t like the law, don’t bother to follow it. That’s what she said. She didn’t like it. Well, guess what? We didn’t like what she did, do we?”

This isn’t just about Bucks County. Over in Philadelphia, the Board of Elections faced a similar legal challenge after voting 2-1 to count mail-in ballots with missing or incorrect dates. This, too, defied a state Supreme Court ruling that such ballots should not be counted.

On Monday, the Court reaffirmed its stance, further exposing the defiance and partisanship infecting the electoral process. Neither Bucks County nor Philadelphia ultimately counted these ballots, but not before undermining public trust in the system.

When election officials ignore the highest court in their state, the message is clear: rules are for other people. This kind of behavior sets a dangerous precedent. Laws, particularly those governing elections, exist to ensure fairness and uniformity. If local officials decide to enforce or ignore them at will, chaos and mistrust will surely follow.

Ellis-Marseglia’s flippant justification—coupled with her eventual walk-back—illustrates the arrogance that voters are growing tired of. The people of Bucks County deserve better than elected officials who bend the rules and only apologize when caught.