Following the surge in mail-in and absentee voting during the 2020 election due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a series of lawsuits are emerging this year challenging these popular voting methods, potentially setting the stage for disputes over the outcome of the upcoming November presidential election.
Several key swing states, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Michigan, continue to witness a significant volume of mail-in and absentee voting. This has led to multiple legal challenges in battleground states, with Republicans contesting various aspects such as the proper sealing of mail-in ballot envelopes and correct postmarking.
On the other hand, Democrats have been supportive of mail-in and absentee balloting, advocating for the inclusion of these votes. In 2020, Democrats promoted access to these voting methods to address concerns of individuals who were hesitant to visit polling locations in person during the pandemic, and they continue to prioritize these efforts in their voter mobilization campaigns.
Republicans have shown more skepticism towards mail-in voting, with former President Donald Trump expressing conflicting views. Despite criticizing mail-in voting after his 2020 defeat, labeling it as 'corrupt,' Trump has also emphasized the importance of every vote, including early and absentee ballots. At a recent rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, he urged supporters to 'make a plan to vote early and vote absentee.'
With absentee and mail-in voting already underway in various states and the competition between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris intensifying, the resolution of legal disputes concerning these ballots could play a crucial role in determining the election outcome.
