Federal Court In Pa. Rejects Effort To Block Late-Arriving Ballots Postmarked By Election Day
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal appeals court in Philadelphia on Friday rejected an effort led by a Republican congressional candidate to block about 9,300 ballots that arrived after Election Day.
The three-judge panel, led by Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Brooks Smith, noted the "unprecedented challenges" facing the nation this year, especially the "vast disruption" caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smith said the panel ruled "with commitment to a proposition indisputable in our democratic process: that the lawfully cast vote of every citizen must count."
The ruling involves the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision to accept mail-in ballots that arrived by Friday, Nov. 6, three days after the close of polling places.
REALTED STORIES:
- U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Pa. Republicans' Request To Block Extended Ballots Past Nov. 3
- Pennsylvania AG Josh Shapiro: 'We've Seen Absolutely No Evidence' Of Voter Fraud
- Erie Postal Worker Admits Making Up Pennsylvania Ballot Tampering Claims, Officials Say
- Trump Campaign Challenges Pennsylvania Votes, Democrats Say No Fraud Is Found
- Threat Of Lawsuits Looms As Pennsylvania's Vote Count Continues
- Courts Allow Pennsylvania's Vote Count To Continue
- Judge Tosses Out Trump Campaign Lawsuit Attempting To Stop Vote Count In Pennsylvania
- Rep. Mike Kelly And Others File Lawsuit Against Secretary Of State Kathy Boockvar
- Election Litigation: Can The Lawsuits Surrounding The 2020 Election Slow Down The Outcome?
- Trump Campaign Suing To Temporarily Halt Vote Count In Pennsylvania
Republicans have the same issue pending on appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Separately, a national law firm that came under criticism for its work for the Trump campaign has asked a judge to let it withdraw from representing the campaign in a lawsuit that seeks to prevent Pennsylvania officials from certifying election results.
Legal giant Porter Wright Morris & Arthur filed the motion Thursday, leaving Philadelphia election lawyer Linda A. Kerns as the remaining attorney for the campaign and two voters in the lawsuit.
Porter Wright's role in the matter had drawn criticism, and the firm took down its Twitter feed Tuesday after it was inundated with attacks.
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