Democrats: Justices’ 4-4 tie in election case ominous sign [PA vote counting after Nov. 3]

Associated Press ^ | October 21, 2020 | Mark Sherman

[Olog-hai]

With Amy Coney Barrett expected to join the Supreme Court as early as next week, the court’s action in a Pennsylvania voting case has heightened fears among Democrats about the court being asked to decide a post-election dispute and with it, the winner of the White House.

The justices split 4-4 Monday over a Republican plea to undo a state court order and force elections officials to ignore absentee ballots received after Election Day, Nov. 3. The tie vote left the Pennsylvania court order in effect and allows mailed ballots to be counted if they are received by Nov. 6. Chief Justice John Roberts and his three liberal colleagues voted to leave the court order in place.

The four conservative members of the court who would have granted the GOP’s request are likely to be joined soon by Barrett. That’s a potential majority, even without Roberts, in any election-related dispute, whether from Pennsylvania or any other battleground state where mailed-in ballots or a recount fight could decide the winner.

“One more vote, provided by a hard-right, Trump-nominated justice, could be the difference between voting rights and voting suppression,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Tuesday. …

[rlbedfor]

Folks in PA. Fix your Supreme Court. Good gracious.