Pennsylvania Election Lawsuits Intensify as Republicans Seek to Invalidate Mail Ballots

Strategic Insights -

Pennsylvania Republican Party and President Trump's campaign have launched a series of lawsuits in the state, seeking to invalidate mail ballots received after Election Day. The move comes as Joe Biden's lead in the state grows. The U.S. Supreme Court, led by Justice Samuel Alito, has intervened, ordering county election officials to segregate mail ballots received after Election Day, but not to stop counting them. Republican claims of widespread voter fraud have been met with skepticism by judges, who have rejected or dismissed several lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign. Despite the setbacks, the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee have mobilized a team of at least 35 lawyers to bring cases alleging voting irregularities or missteps by election officials.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pennsylvania Republican Party has filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court to keep state officials from counting mail ballots received after Election Day, but the court has not directed election officials to stop counting the ballots.
  • The GOP has sought to halt or delay the ballot count in several lawsuits filed or revived this week around the country, but judges have responded skeptically as Republicans struggle to provide specific evidence to support Trump's claim of widespread voter fraud.
  • At least 35 lawyers, including newly appointed Republican National Committee "legal challenge teams" in key states, have been drafted by the campaign to bring cases alleging voting irregularities or missteps by election officials in the wake of an election that ran largely smoothly.
  • Voting rights advocates, election administrators, and Democrats have roundly criticized the lawsuits as meritless.
  • The Trump campaign has accused election officials of breaking rules during ballot processing and counting in Detroit, but judges have rejected these claims.
  • The Nevada Republican Party has accused more than 3,000 people of voting illegally after moving out of state, but election officials in Clark County have countered that it is not unusual for people to legally cast ballots after moving out of the state.
  • Rep. Lee Chatfield, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, has announced plans to open a legislative inquiry into the state's election and counting procedures.

Statistics:

  • The U.S. Postal Service processed roughly 4,900 ballots in Pennsylvania on Wednesday and Thursday.
  • In Philadelphia, just 500 ballots came in Wednesday and Thursday and were set aside.
  • Allegheny County planned to add the 947 valid ballots it received after Election Day to its total Friday evening but keeping them segregated for review.
  • A Justice Department official said the department was "looking into" allegations of voter fraud in Nevada, but declined to provide more detail.

Sources:

  • The Washington Post: "Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ballot extension cited by Biden campaign as reason for some Republicans to seek to invalidate votes"
  • CNN: "Pennsylvania officials say they're setting aside late mail ballots"
  • The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Philadelphia sets aside 500 mail ballots from after Election Day"
  • The Detroit Free Press: "Judge rejects Trump campaign's challenge to Detroit's absentee ballot process"
  • The Nevada Independent: "Nevada GOP accuses thousands of people of voting illegally after moving out of state"
  • The Michigan Capitol News: "Michigan House Speaker plans investigation into state's election and counting procedures"
  • Arizona Republic: "Arizona officials downplay claims of 'Sharpiegate' affecting vote count"