The 2020 election is set to be the most litigious in history as more than 150 lawsuits are filed in over 40 states to determine just when, where, and how people can vote.
Both Republicans and Democrats have filed legal action against states over issues that could very well determine who will become the next President of the United States. COVID-19 plays a major role in many of the lawsuits as Democrats seek to expand mail-in voting to make it easy for everyone to stay home on Election Day. Republicans are challenging expanded mail-in voting, saying it could enable potential fraud.
In Pennsylvania, the system was not able to handle the increased number of mail-in votes. The state set up drop-off points so people could turn in their ballots without mailing them. However, as the RNC noted in a recent lawsuit against the state, setting up drop-off boxes in public areas such as libraries is not only against Pennsylvania law, but also enhances the risk of fraud. Should the practice be expanded nationwide, it’s conceivable that many people would doubt the outcome of the national vote.
The consolidation of polling places is also generating controversy. As cities and states around the nation struggle to get the COVID-19 pandemic under control, many are setting up fewer voting stations than they did in times past. This has given rise to concerns and lawsuits over voting rights, especially in areas that have not expanded mail-in voting to include all eligible voters in the states.
Poll-watching is also controversial this year as both parties fret that members of the other party would use the practice to intimidate voters.
Other issues at the heart of a myriad of lawsuits include requirements that mail-in ballots be received by a certain date, and allowance for voters to fix ballots that contain mistaken or unclear information which would ordinarily render a ballot invalid.
The Democrats are pulling out all the stops this year in a bid to get their candidate in the White House, even voting against a motion that makes it clear that only U.S. citizens have a right to vote. Republicans, on the other hand, are urging caution and refusing to upend the way voting is conducted.
Now, ask yourself: which of these parties seem to care more about election integrity, and which seems to care more about winning?
