The Democratic chair of a key Pennsylvania county's elections board apologized on Wednesday for saying "precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore" when she voted to count hundreds of deficient mail and provisional ballots. "I wanted to start by apologizing for the upset and confusion that I have caused the citizens of Bucks County and the hardworking employees of this county and my family and those who share my last name," Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia said at a Wednesday meeting. "Anyone who knows me knows that I care a lot about elections and I have been involved in them all my life, virtually. And like all of you and all Americans, I want this election and every election to be fair, to be honest, to be just and one we can have confidence in," she continued. Ellis-Marseglia gained national attention when she voted last week to count hundreds of undated and misdated mail ballots as well as provisional ballots with errors. “I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country and people violate laws any time they want. So for me, if I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention to it," Ellis-Marseglia said. The comment sparked widespread criticism, given that state elections law prohibits counting ballots that fail to meet the technical requirements. Voting rights groups and Democrats have mounted various challenges, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court before the election ruled that the date requirement must be enforced this cycle. On Monday, the court reiterated its position that officials cannot flout provisions of the elections code, with multiple justices rebuking Ellis-Marseglia and other officials for defying the court. At issue are roughly 600 ballots in Bucks County as well as hundreds of others in places like Philadelphia and Montgomery counties. As the controversy gained steam, Bucks County officials reported receiving threats. The dispute has gotten attention particularly as Pennsylvania's Senate race heads to an automatic recount. Decision Desk HQ, The Hill's partner, has projected Republican Dave McCormick as the winner. But incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who trails by roughly 16,000 votes, has not yet conceded. Both campaigns are continuing to battle in state trial courts over the validity of various batches of ballots.