A federal judge in Pennsylvania heard arguments on Friday about a lawsuit filed by six Republican members of Congress and a conservative voting organization. The lawsuit is seeking new verification steps to confirm the identification and eligibility of soldiers and other overseas citizens casting votes in the upcoming election. The judge questioned why the plaintiffs waited so long to file the complaint and asked whether they have personal injury claims that warrant legal action.
The plaintiffs are asking the judge to declare that current voting practices violate federal law and to have overseas and military ballots segregated until additional verification measures are implemented. The goal is to ensure that votes are accurately counted and that the process is fair for all voters, including those serving abroad. The hearing drew attention from groups such as the Secure Families Initiative, which advocates for military families and supports efforts to protect their voting rights.
The lawsuit was filed by PA Fair Elections, led by Heather Honey, and supported by six Republican members of the U.S. House. Democrats have criticized the lawsuit, calling it part of a broader effort to undermine the integrity of U.S. elections. Attorney Erick Kaardal, representing the congressmen, argued that failure to verify identities could lead to invalid votes being counted. However, the state’s legal counsel argued that the plaintiffs did not provide sufficient grounds for the judge to intervene, as federal laws exempt overseas voters from certain identification requirements.
The defendants in the case, including Secretary of State Al Schmidt and elections official Jonathan Marks, have argued that it is too late to pursue changes to the voting process with Election Day approaching. They noted that thousands of overseas ballots have already been sent out, and any alterations at this stage could disrupt the voting process. The lawsuit does not claim that overseas and military ballots are prone to fraud but instead focuses on ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the vote count.
Military voters are more likely to lean Republican, while other overseas voters tend to support Democratic candidates. Both parties are making efforts to mobilize these voters and increase turnout. The outcome of the legal challenge in Pennsylvania could have implications for the upcoming election, which is being closely watched as a pivotal swing state. The judge did not immediately issue a ruling after the hearing, leaving the status of the lawsuit uncertain as Election Day draws closer.
