Pennsylvania's Legal Battles on Mail Voting to Shape Critical Senate Race

Pennsylvania is witnessing significant legal action targeting gaps in its vote-by-mail laws, primarily unfolding in the courtroom rather than the legislature. The state is poised to be a focal point for challenges and conspiracy theories if the November election is close. The critical U.S. Senate contest between Democratic incumbent Bob Casey and Republican challenger David McCormick will influence Senate control, highlighting Pennsylvania's role as a significant swing state.

Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, emphasized the high stakes in Pennsylvania, the largest swing state. Political gridlock over election laws in Pennsylvania began in 2019 when a Republican-controlled legislature expanded mail voting in a compromise with then-Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Former President Donald Trump has demonized mail voting without evidence, creating partisan divides and leading to Republican lawmakers retracting their support.

Democrats are pushing for early in-person voting in Pennsylvania, but it faces opposition from Republicans. Election-related lawsuits primarily target mail-in voting and are proliferating in state, federal, and county courts. Notably, three-fourths of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania are typically cast by Democrats. Counties seek to process mail-in ballots before Election Day to produce quicker results, a practice allowed in nearly every other state with mail voting.

Charlie Gerow, a longtime Republican activist and strategist in Pennsylvania, noted the rarity of voter fraud, typically involving just a few ballots. An Associated Press investigation in 2021 found fewer than 475 cases of potential voter fraud across six states where Trump disputed his loss. Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by more than 80,000 votes in Pennsylvania in 2020.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, a Republican, has not heard of any state where pre-canvassing fraud has occurred. The Pennsylvania House passed legislation for pre-canvassing, but it is stalled in the Senate due to demands for a constitutional amendment to expand voter ID requirements. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, a Republican, expressed concerns over the public perception of election security, while Democratic House Majority Leader Matt Bradford is worried about the legislative stalemate's impact on elections.

Philadelphia expects to wrap up most of its vote counting within roughly 24 hours after polls close, potentially by election night if pre-canvassing is allowed. The Republican National Committee (RNC) launched a swing state initiative to mobilize polling place monitors, poll workers, and attorneys as “election integrity” watchdogs, aiming to help voters have faith in the electoral process and ensure their votes matter.

Former President Donald Trump and his allies continue to spread false claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. The RNC’s new effort will focus on stopping "Democrat attempts to circumvent the rules" and will involve legal action if necessary. The RNC aims to recruit 100,000 volunteers for this initiative, with RNC Chairman Michael Whatley announcing the placement of election integrity directors in 15 states, including key battlegrounds.

RNC Co-chair Lara Trump emphasized the importance of election integrity during the kickoff event in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Both the Republican and Democratic National Committees have a history of organizing poll monitors. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, warned that feeding voters the idea of a stolen election can be dangerous.

Trump has continued to predict a rigged election if he loses, and RNC leadership has followed his lead in forecasting potential foul play in this year’s election. The federal court consent decree that restricted the RNC's ability to coordinate poll watching and other election integrity activities was lifted in 2018.

The GOP faces a significant disadvantage compared to Democrats in traditional political infrastructure in key states. Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee have opened hundreds of campaign offices nationwide. The RNC's kickoff event took place at the headquarters of the Oak***d County GOP in Michigan, an affluent Detroit suburb that has shifted increasingly Democratic in recent years. Trump lost Oak***d County in both of his previous campaigns.

The RNC has focused many of its challenges ahead of the election in Michigan, a state Trump narrowly won in 2016 but lost to Biden in 2020. Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey stated that confrontational behavior by poll watchers in 2020 was unacceptable and won't be repeated. The RNC’s “Protect Your Vote” tour will hold events in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, with North Carolina state Rep. Allison Dahle criticizing Republicans for not providing more resources to the State Board of Elections to discourage fraud.

Conservative Bias:

Once again, the liberals are trying to rig the system in Pennsylvania to ensure their grip on power. They've weaponized mail-in voting, knowing full well that it opens the door to fraud and chaos. The Democrats, led by their puppet masters, are pushing for early in-person voting, a move designed to overwhelm the system and create opportunities for illegal votes. Despite clear evidence that voter fraud is a real concern, the left continues to ignore it, hoping the courts will do their dirty work. The liberal media and their allies are quick to dismiss any claims of fraud, but the truth is that the integrity of our elections is at stake. Republicans are valiantly fighting back, with the RNC mobilizing a massive effort to ensure that every vote cast is legitimate. The Democrats’ refusal to address these issues shows their true colors—they don’t care about a fair process, only about winning at any cost. This is nothing more than a blatant attempt by the left to undermine our democracy and silence conservative voices.

Liberal Bias:

The conservative fear-mongering machine is in full swing in Pennsylvania, desperately trying to cling to power by spreading baseless claims of voter fraud. Despite overwhelming evidence that mail-in voting is safe and secure, Republicans are hell-bent on obstructing it, knowing that it benefits Democratic voters. Their opposition to early in-person voting is just another tactic to suppress votes and disenfranchise citizens. The GOP's so-called "election integrity" efforts are a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate voters and poll workers, fueled by Trump’s incessant lies about a stolen election. The Republican-led legislature’s refusal to pass pre-canvassing laws is a deliberate move to delay results and sow chaos. Meanwhile, Democrats are fighting for a fair and efficient voting process, but the GOP's obstructionism threatens to undermine the entire electoral system. The RNC's nationwide initiative is nothing more than a coordinated effort to perpetuate Trump's dangerous rhetoric and erode trust in our democracy. This is a blatant power grab by conservatives who are terrified of losing their grip on power in a changing America.