In PennsylvaniaMore than 4,000 absentee ballot applications have been challenged in 14 counties, prompting election officials to hold hearings to determine voter eligibility that will extend beyond Election Day.

State officials report that these “mass challenges” primarily target two groups: individuals who may have forwarded their mail without updating their voter registration and non-military U.S. citizens living abroad . The latter group is only allowed to vote for presidential and congressional candidates under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Challengers had until 5 p.m. Friday to challenge the absentee ballot requests. All ballots from voters whose claims have been challenged will be voided until the county election commission rules on the claims, with hearings to be held no later than three days thereafter. Election Day.

As a critical hinge state, Pennsylvania could play a decisive role in the tight race between the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump. The approximately 4,300 contested ballots could have a significant impact on the outcome and distribution of the state’s 19 electoral votes.

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The challenges follow a federal judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by six Republican members of Congress seeking to impose new eligibility verification checks on military and overseas voters.

The first hearing held in Chester County resulted in the dismissal of all challenges related to allegations that voters had moved and failed to update their registration. Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell expressed concern over a letter sent by challengers that reportedly led to the cancellation of 2,300 voter registrations.

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In Chester County, challenges cost $10 per voter, and it’s not clear who filed them. Many were initiated by Diane Houser, a Trump supporter, who claimed the challenges were nonpartisan and grassroots in nature.

Lycoming County is expected to hear 72 challenges from Karen DiSalvo, an attorney associated with the conservative group PA Fair Elections, although she said she launched the challenges independently. DiSalvo argued that the challenges simply highlight the need for county election officials to properly process existing voter registration applications.

In York County, the election commission rejected all 354 challenges, but agreed to hold the affected ballots separately during the appeal period.

By Saturday, PennsylvaniaThe State Department reported nearly 3,700 pending challenges to absentee ballot requests from out-of-state voters in ten counties, as well as additional challenges related to 363 voters accused of changing their addresses.

Maxwell pointed out that many of those challenged include active-duty military, students and residents seeking medical care, calling the actions an alarming attempt to disenfranchise legitimate voters.

The American Civil Liberties Union Pennsylvania noted that submitting a change of address form does not necessarily indicate a permanent move, as these forms can be used to forward mail.

Lawrence County has 52 pending challenges, mostly to overseas absentee ballot applications, with hearings likely needed by Friday. In Bucks County, about 1,300 challenges have been filed, mostly by Republican Sen. Jarrett Coleman, prompting officials to notify affected voters of an upcoming hearing.