2024 U.S. Election: Over 4,000 Mail Ballot Applications in Pennsylvania Challenged Under Heightened Scrutiny

Hearings to determine voter eligibility might go past Election Day and could have an effect on the hotly heated race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. These contested ballots could be crucial to the outcome because Pennsylvania is vying for 19 electoral votes.

Election officials in 14 counties in Pennsylvania are examining more than 4,000 mail-in ballot applications, and they may hold hearings on voter eligibility after Election Day.

State authorities said the two main targets of these pervasive issues are nonmilitary U.S. citizens living abroad and voters who may have moved without updating their voter registration information.

Only presidential and congressional elections are open to the latter category, which is protected by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Applications for challenges to mail-in ballots were to be turned in by Friday at 5 p.m. Until county election boards have had a chance to examine and settle each issue, all ballots associated with contested petitions will be placed aside. Pennsylvania’s final vote count may be impacted by hearings on certain issues, which must take place within three days of Election Day.

Impact: Pennsylvania is a crucial swing state that might be crucial in the close contest between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. The outcome and the distribution of the state’s 19 electoral votes could be greatly impacted by the roughly 4,300 challenged mail ballots.

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