Over 4,000 ballots from overseas voters have been challenged across Pennsylvania, a critical battleground in the upcoming election. The challenges have stirred debate, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) claiming they’re invalid and demand immediate dismissal to prevent election delays.
Among those affected is Mariam Larson, a long-time Pennsylvania voter residing in Canada. Like many overseas citizens, Larson submitted her absentee ballot only to receive a notification that her vote was under challenge due to her residency status. “It felt like an accusation of wrongdoing,” Larson said, expressing her frustration and confusion over the challenge.
According to the ACLU, federal law allows Americans living abroad to vote in federal elections at their last U.S. residence if they’re unsure about returning stateside. In a letter sent to all 67 counties, the ACLU urged Pennsylvania officials to reject these challenges promptly to ensure a smooth canvassing process. “These challenges are both procedurally and substantively deficient,” the letter stated.
Reports suggest that the challenges were organized by Election Research Institute, led by Heather Honey, a known election activist. A lawyer from the group, Karen DiSalvo, recently lost a federal case challenging overseas voting rights. A judge dismissed the case as unfounded, labeling the concerns as “phantom fears of foreign malfeasance.”
The overseas ballot challenges add to the intense scrutiny around Pennsylvania’s electoral processes. With polls showing a neck-and-neck race for the state’s 19 electoral votes, both campaigns are contesting technicalities that could impact the counting of mail-in ballots. Earlier rulings by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court have already invalidated ballots lacking dates or protective sleeves.
