Last-minute challenges in battleground Pennsylvania target thousands of mail-in ballots

As the crucial election day draws near, thousands of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania are facing rejection due to a last-minute campaign that has raised concerns among voting rights groups and local election officials. The campaign, led by a small group of individuals, aims to challenge the validity of ballots from overseas voters and question the eligibility of individuals who have had their mail forwarded to another address at some point. This has caused chaos and unnecessary work for election boards in several counties across the state.

Numerous challenges were filed just minutes before the deadline on Friday, with Bucks County receiving nearly 1,200 challenges to overseas voters and Lehigh County receiving 519 challenges, all filed by Pennsylvania State Senator Jarrett Coleman. Another Republican senator, Sen. Cris Dush, filed challenges to 77 voters in Centre County. These challenges were deemed meritless by some election boards, but they have added pressure to an already tense election process in a state that holds significant weight in determining the outcome of the presidential race.

The challenges, described as “bad-faith mass challenges” by Pennsylvania’s top election official, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, have been based on theories that courts have consistently rejected. More than 3,000 overseas voters who applied to vote by mail have had their ballots challenged, along with hundreds of other mail voters who were targeted using the US Postal Service’s change of address database.

The targeting of overseas ballots has become a focal point in battleground states, including Pennsylvania, where Democrats have made efforts to mobilize citizens living abroad. In the 2020 election, there were over 28,000 overseas voters in Pennsylvania, a number that could potentially sway the election results in a state where President Joe Biden won by a narrow margin.

Challenges filed in various counties have been met with resistance, with individuals confirming their eligibility to vote at hearings. However, the challenges continue to persist, with individuals like Karen DiSalvo and Charles Faltenovich filing challenges against non-military members overseas in counties like Lycoming, Washington, and Beaver.

While states have the authority to enforce voter registration requirements for overseas citizens, Pennsylvania law does not explicitly address this category of voters. Federal law, however, grants these voters the right to continue voting in the state they last resided in while in the US. The deadline for county election boards to address these challenges is November 8, with the option to appeal in Pennsylvania court if a voter is disqualified or a challenger’s challenge is rejected.

The ongoing challenges have raised concerns about voter suppression and the integrity of the election process. Voting rights groups and officials are closely monitoring the situation as the election approaches, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot and have it counted.