Pirkle v. wolf
Filed:: November 10th
Claim: Four voters tried to prevent all votes from Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, and Allegheny counties from being included in the total number of states, claiming the state had violated the right to equal protection by having different postal voting practices between the states Counties.
Prior to the election, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar advised county electoral officials that “healing” postal ballot papers (the term used to fix errors such as a missing signature) was allowed but not required. As a result, local practices differed to some extent. This lawsuit alleges that it was unconstitutional to allow some, but not all, of Philadelphia voters to have their ballots cured. The lawsuit also cites Delaware County for alleging personal ballot papers sent to voters that were found to have received postal ballot papers without having to sign the registration book at the polls. In Allegheny County, according to the lawsuit, voters were required to pre-vote if records showed they had requested a postal vote but not cast it.
Context: The electoral system in the United States is highly decentralized, giving state and district officials considerable authority to conduct elections. As a result, it is common for states to allow variations in local electoral practices and allow voters to cast preliminary ballots in various circumstances.
Status: On Thursday night, the law firm Porter Wright, which represents the Trump campaign, asked to retire. Previously the plaintiffs asked Judge Matthew Brann of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to consolidate this case with the next below.
Donald J. Trump for President against Boockvar
Filed: November 9th
Claim: The Trump campaign seeks to block the certification of the Pennsylvania elections due to allegations of postal voting fraud, inadequate access for election observers, and different procedures for healing ballot papers between counties.
Plaintiffs said “Democratic Heavy” counties allowed voters to heal their postal vote, while “Republican Heavy” counties did not. They also said ballots were being processed in Allegheny County and Philadelphia while election observers were too far away to see what was happening.
Context: Republican attorneys upheld the party in court on election day observer were present at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia when the votes were counted. “I’m sorry, what is your problem then?” Judge Paul S. Diamond of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania asked. He provided modest accommodation and ordered the city electoral commission to allow election observers to approach the census.