Special Report: Why the Pennsylvania vote count might throw U.S. into political crisis

Reuters ^ | October 23, 2020 | By Jarrett Renshaw, Simon Lewis, Brad Heath

[Oldeconomybuyer]

PHILADELPHIA - Here in the birthplace of American democracy, election officials are scrambling to prepare for a presidential vote they fear could plunge the nation into a historic political crisis.

Philadelphia’s Board of Elections plans to move its counting operations to a 125,000-square foot space in the city’s convention center. Dozens of staffers, feeding expensive new machines to open envelopes and process mail-in ballots, will spend days tallying hundreds of thousands of votes - under intense scrutiny from partisan observers. The workers likely will discard thousands of ballots that are not properly completed or do not arrive in a special “secrecy envelope.” Outside, police officers redeployed from their neighborhood districts will conduct round-the-clock patrols to guard against violence among protesters, a police source told Reuters.

President Donald Trump last month called on supporters to monitor the city’s election apparatus because “bad things happen in Philadelphia” - one of his many unsubstantiated claims that Democrats are engineering a massive voter fraud.

Such comments prompted Philadelphia’s District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, to study the laws governing militias, in case gun-toting extremists show up at the polls to intimidate voters. If that happens, Krasner warned: “We’ve got a jail cell for you.”

In Pennsylvania and across America, retailers are reinforcing glass, hiring guards or retaining on-call teams that barricade and board up buildings. Citizens of all political stripes are snapping up guns and ammunition in record numbers.

These preparations underscore the fragile state of the election system in a nation long known as the global standard-bearer for democracy.

Trump is the first U.S. president to make attacking the integrity of the nation’s elections a central campaign theme. Those attacks - along with sudden shifts in state voting rules to deal with the coronavirus pandemic - have ignited a partisan ground war.

[ducttape45]

one of his many unsubstantiated claims that Democrats are engineering a massive voter fraud

Unsubstantiated???????

[Cowboy Bob]

As ex-presidents go, I'd say that Clinton has a lot more influence than Obama. Obama, even as an ex-president, has no gravitas.

[shanover]

The PA decision may just give the election to Biden with just enough other fraud from other states.

[Revel]

The federal constitution guarantees that he federal government will ensure that the states have a representative government. When a bunch of thug judges can overrule that representative government then the federal government needs to step in. The USSC needs to slap them down. Monday night would be a good time to file an emergency legal case.

[jersey117]

Intentional by Justice Roberts

[jersey117]

Looks like he’s running for town council. What a joke.

[Trumpisourlastchance]

The PA Supreme Court ruled today that mail in ballot must be counted even if the person’s signature does not match.

That’s insane.

[TheConservativeTejano]

Partner, the election will be over very quickly and I certainly do not believe the polls or the current MSM.

President Trump will not even need Pennsylvania.

[fortheDeclaration]

It won’t! It will be appealed when ACB is seated.

[G Larry]

"If its not close, they can't cheat!"

Hat Tip to Hugh Hewitt.

[Red in Blue PA]

I will be carrying concealed to the polls just like I carry everywhere.

Anyone who doesnt like it can FOAD.

[lightman]

Pennsylvania Ping!

Please ping me with articles of interest.

FReepmail me to be added to the list.

[Carriage Hill]

Historically, it usually is over 100% of registered voters.

[Carriage Hill]

mass rioting on Nov. 4 = targets of opportunity.