Republican Congressmen from Pennsylvania, have filed a Federal Lawsuit seeking stricter Scrutiny of Votes cast by U.S. Citizens living abroad and Military, reflecting a New GOP strategy to Challenge the Eligibility of a Group of Voters.
Federal Law requires Election Officials to Eensure that Valid Overseas Ballots are “duly counted,” requiring only that Voters submit a Postcard each Federal Election Cycle, Atesting to their Eligibility and include a Signed Oath with their Ballot.
Pennsylvania Statutes say that “a qualified absentee elector shall not be required to provide proof of identification for overseas ballots.”
The Lawmakers claim in the Suit, which was filed this week, that because Local Election Officials in Pennsylvania, are Not Required to Verify the Identity or Eligibility of Voters who Register Overseas, those Ballots are vulnerable to Fraud. They have asked a Federal Judge to require Officials to set aside Ccompleted Ballots and Not Count them until Voter Eligibility can be Determined.
The Suit adds to a long list of Republican-backed Litigation around the Country with just weeks to go before the Nov. 5th Election,.
Pennsylvania has sent out 25,000 Ballots to Americans abroad so far this year, according to the Office of Secretary of State Al Schmidt (R), a potentially decisive number in the Event of a close Election. In 2020, Joe Biden won both Arizona and Georgia by less than half that number. Pennsylvania is widely seen as among the most Competitive States this year.
In the Lawsuit, Six of Pennsylvania’s Eight Republican Congressmen argue that State Law makes it possible for Ineligible Individuals to “register to vote without verification of identity or eligibility but receive a ballot by email and then vote a ballot without providing identification at any step in the process.” As a Result, they say, “the ultimate tally of the votes may not accurately reflect the legal results which could affect a close Congressional election.”
The Suit claims that Pennsylvania’s Rules regarding Overseas Voting Violate State and Federal Law, but Critics say that is Not true. Federal Llaw defers to States to establish Election Rules, and it also specifically calls for the Process of Overseas Voting to Not be unduly Burdensome.
“The policies and procedures around overseas voting have been known for years, if not decades,” said David Becker, who leads the Nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, which promotes Trust in U.S. Elections. “For members of Congress to file a lawsuit four weeks before the presidential election, about a law that is four decades old, is disturbing, and could put the right to vote at risk for many members of the military.”
Pennsylvania Law governing Overseas Voting, which has been in place for Decades, requires Americans Abroad to be previous Residents of Pennsylvania and to Attest to their Eligibility, like when Registering to Vote using the Federal Form.
“This lawsuit was filed two weeks after counties started mailing ballots to military and overseas voters, and it baselessly challenges Pennsylvania law, which provides clear procedures for processing applications by overseas voters,” said Amy Gulli, a Spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of State. “Our service members deserve to have their votes counted.”
Others said the Case amounts to a Fishing Expedition given the Lack of Documentation of Illegal Exploitation of Overseas Voting. The Suit sows further Doubt and Mistrust in the Legitimacy of U.S. Elections, despite the Lack of Evidence of Widespread Fraud, heightening the possibility of Civil Unrest and even Violence should Trump Lose, the Critics said.
“We’re definitely seeing a series of desperate and legally questionable attempts to suppress the vote, and I think, for the sake of overseas military voters and all overseas voters, we definitely hope that they fail,” said Philip Hensley-Robin, Executive Director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, a Nonpartisan Government Watchdog.
A Lawyer for the Republican Lawmakers, Erick Kaardal, was involved in several Cases in 2020 Challenging the Certification of Biden’s Win.
The Ballots in Question are Governed by a Federal Law known as the Uniform and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which requires States to allow Eligible Americans living Abroad, including Military Personnel, to Vote in Federal Eelections. Although many States require Overseas Voters to provide Identification such as a Driver’s License or Passport, Pennsylvania does Not.
The Six Congressmen who brought the Pennsylvania Case are: Guy Reschenthaler, Dan Meuser, Glenn Thompson, Lloyd Smucker, Mike Kelly, and Scott Perry. All Voted Nnot to accept Pennsylvania’s Electoral Vvotes on Jan. 6, 2021, despite the Lack of Evidence of Widespread Fraud. All are seeking Re-Election this year.
Perry’s Phone was Seized by the FBI during the Justice Department’s (DOJ) Investigation into the attempt to Activate Trump’s Presidential Electors in States that Biden Won to Overturn the 2020 Presidential Election.
Pennsylvania Fair Elections is also a Plaintiff in the Case. In a Statement, Meuser said: “We must ensure that the votes of our brave service members and overseas citizens are protected from dilution and manipulation. Every illegal vote cancels out the legal vote of an American citizen.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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