York County is getting challenges on some federal absentee ballots

(This story has been updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

The York County Board of Elections unanimously rejected a challenge to 354 federal overseas voter applications after a hearing Monday afternoon.

Angie Kline of York County filed appeals Friday afternoon for 354 ballot applications that fall under Absentee Voting Law for Citizens in Uniform and Abroad. It allows certain groups of citizens, such as those living outside the United States, to vote only for federal offices.

“We want the board of elections to register these people, and in doing so, they will investigate how they are eligible to be a citizen to vote,” Kline said during the hearing. “And at this point, we’re not sure that all of these are eligible. But I don’t dispute their right to vote. They can vote”.

Her attorney, Alina Dusharm, clarified that Kline’s argument is that the county must register people to vote while processing the absentee ballot application. If not, the ballot is invalid.

Robert Gavin, deputy county attorney, said federal registration under the act is completely separate from state registration. If individuals complete federal voter registration and absentee ballot application“then they are qualified voters under this federal law.”

Gavin also argued that the challenger must present sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption of qualification.

“Just saying ‘we’re not sure’ is not specific or specific evidence to overcome that presumption,” he said.

Dusharm and Kline did not speak after the hearing.

York County was one of at least nine counties in the state that “received mass-produced challenges to the eligibility of qualified overseas voters who applied for and were approved for absentee ballots” for the election, according to the data. a letter written by the ACLU and the ACLU of Pennsylvania. They sent the letter to all the county attorneys.

“Nearly 50 years ago, Congress enshrined the right of American citizens overseas to vote in the district in which they last lived, but only for federal elections,” the ACLU wrote. “Accordingly, county boards of elections must legally allow challenged voters to vote for federal offices in future elections. Competitors either misunderstand or ignore this longstanding federal law. In any case, the law requires that these challenges be summarily denied.”

A press release distributed by the ALCU of Pennsylvania says, “The PA Voters Decide Coalition opposes these challenges, as their sole purpose is to target Pennsylvania voters right before a critical election.”

“In Pennsylvania, we have a proud tradition of free and fair elections. We will not allow discredited election denial groups to suppress eligible voters and override the will of the people,” said Philip Hensley-Robin, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania. press release “Our democracy is strongest when every voice is heard and every vote is counted, including those of overseas voters. These baseless challenges will be rejected by the Boards of Elections and the courts A challenge to immediately contact the nonpartisan voter protection hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE, for assistance.”

The Pennsylvania Department of State issued a statement saying, “The Shapiro Administration has always strongly defended the rights of Pennsylvania voters to participate in our representative democracy and make their voices heard at the ballot box, and has continued to do so today.”

It costs $10 for each appeal filed, said Ari Savitsky, senior staff attorney for the ACLU Voting Rights Project.

Mass challenges are not appropriate and come at a time when county officials are busy preparing for Election Day, he said.

The three cardboard boxes filled with federal absentee ballot applications remained in the care of a sheriff’s deputy and York County Commissioner Julie Wheeler during transit.

The appellant has two days to file an appeal, according to county officials. If one is not submitted, election workers can begin counting the ballots.

Check back later as this is a developing story.