Among the most important events to happen in Pennsylvania this year will be the primary election in April and the general election in November.
It is important to every person in the state, as every state House of Representatives seat and a number of state Senate seats will be on the ballot. So will every federal House position and a federal Senate seat.
It is important to everyone in the country because, yet again, Pennsylvania is poised to be a pivot point for the presidential election.
Each election for years has not ended with the ballot box or the voting count. They have prompted lawsuits, often multiple rounds of lawsuits, which have traveled through state or federal appeals — or both.
The decisions from those suits seldom provide satisfaction for those protesting. Indeed, they frequently lead to even more speculation about election security, deepening political divides.
Countering that has begun with the creation of the Pennsylvania Election Threats Task Force. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office said meetings have begun. Threats mentioned include dangers to the election process itself as well as voter intimidation and misinformation.
It’s smart to bring together law enforcement, legal and rapid response agencies on the state and federal level for something this critical to our democracy. It is better to be proactive than reactive to potential problems. (Let’s hope the state’s 67 counties are following suit and won’t have issues like Luzerne County running out of paper in 2022.)
This is a necessary move. What is unfortunate is that it is necessary.
What is more unfortunate is that it likely won’t matter when it comes to perception. The state’s election battles just don’t die, as proven by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals hearing oral arguments last month on whether mail-in ballots should or shouldn’t be counted if they don’t have handwritten dates on the outer envelope — an issue that has been in court more than some lawyers.
This election year will be contentious. The task force can address some issues. But it can only do so much to address the political headbutting before — or after — ballots are cast.
— Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP
