1. “...they’ll punt the ball to someone else...”
Who?
2. ‘...They also are very scared of the possibility of civil unrest...”
THAT’S assured either way...it’s WHY we have a SCOTUS and why they are seated where they are. I can’t believe none of the justices EVER pondered this scenario or has some understanding of their position and obligation where this is concerned.
3. If the SCOTUS drops the ball now, ALL AND ANY of their future ‘opinions’ are moot. The justices and the whole legal profession will have become a laughable Kabuki sham. They will be a very expensive and useless rubber stamp and a perpetual national joke
To Who?
The State Legislatures involved and/or Joint Session of Congress. SCOTUS, especially with the current makeup, are very cognizant that their decisions do not carry any, lets call it “political” recourse from the people (its a lifetime appointment, not elected). If there is a constitutional procedure that specifies legislative involvement, the SCOTUS will always punt the ball to them to figure out what to do. They may issue guidance when doing so, just like they did in the denial of the Texas case.