UK Voter Expresses Fear Over US Election Legal Battle, as Pennsylvania Faces Challenge of Up to 4,000 Ballots
According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), up to 4,000 people voting overseas in the US election are facing challenges to their ballots in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state.
One of these individuals is Selma Aldi, 47, from Camden in north London, who recently received a letter informing her that her ballot in the US presidential election is at risk of rejection.
“It was a shock,” she expressed. “It was frightening to be singled out, potentially losing a right that I deem very important. It’s almost as if someone is questioning my identity.”
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Despite leaving America in 2000, Selma, who is a trainee GP, has voted via absentee ballot in every US presidential election since. A letter from election officials in Dauphin County has raised a legal challenge against her voting eligibility, alleging that she is not registered to vote in Pennsylvania.
A hearing on this challenge is set for Friday, allowing Ms. Aldi to provide a response. Approximately 2.8 million US citizens living abroad have the right to vote in the election, regardless of their location on polling day. However, each state has its own set of procedures and regulations regarding the submission and receipt of election paperwork.
Selma Aldi on her graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, seated next to a figure of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the US.
Ari Savitzky, a senior staff Attorney at the ACLU, stated that “any attempt to challenge [voters’] eligibility is a clear infringement of their rights.” He pointed out that between 3,000 and 4,000 challenges have been filed in Pennsylvania against the absentee ballots of US citizens residing overseas.
“For years, federal law has ensured the right of US citizens living abroad to participate in federal elections at their last US residence,” he added. “In addition to lacking legal basis, these challenges are an affront to voters and election administrators.”
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Deborah Hinchey from All Voting is Local, another voting rights organization, mentioned that “election deniers across Pennsylvania have submitted numerous broad challenges to overseas voters.”
“Their goal is to obstruct as many ballots as they can and stifle our voices… however, these unfounded challenges have been unsuccessful in the past, and the necessary safeguards are in place to ensure their failure once more,” she affirmed.
This evening, Sky News will provide access to comprehensive exit polls and vote-counting results from every state, county, and demographic across America through its US-partner network NBC.
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