Pa. elections likely to generate a new round of lawsuits over mail-in ballots, retired judges say

‘It’s very unfortunate that this question is hanging out there unresolved,’ retired federal Judge John E. Jones said

November 2, 2022 | Peter Hall | Pennsylvania Capital-Star

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s evenly divided result in the latest case seeking clarity on vote-by-mail rules is a set up for “utter chaos” after polls close in the midterm elections next week, retired federal Judge John E. Jones said. …

Without clear guidance for election officials on whether to count mail-in ballots that are returned without a date, the stage is set for another cycle of litigation that could delay final election results for weeks or even months, the judges said.

On Wednesday, Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano turned a message about delays in counting votes from acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman on its head in a campaign email with the subject line, “The fix is in (2020 all over again).” …

The briefing was organized by Keep the Republic, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and strengthening the electoral system.