There it is...right from Rep. Brian Sims, who, incidentally, is the leader of the LGBTQ Caucus in the PA House. His District is in the Philly area. This is the same Brian Sims who broke the story of the Republican House Speaker in PA concealing COVID positives among GOP Representatives from Democratic Representatives...only telling each other...which led to the PA House Speaker having to resign in disgrace, and be replaced.
Now, our Pennsylvania Watchdog has another one! Apparently the PA Legislature is toying with ways to see how they can just toss all the votes in Pennsylvania, and just GIVE Trump PA’s 20 EV’s. This is based on their interpretation of Bush vs Gore.
Now, as a former Pennsylvania resident, I have still some ears on the inside in Pennsylvania. As long as the popular vote is not close, there is no way this succeeds. They won’t even try…
But, even if it IS close...the normal procedure in Pennsylvania...is for the Secretary of the Commonwealth to certify the vote. And Kathy Boockvar is a Democrat. Additionally, Gov. Wolf would certainly have something to say about this...the GOP in PA does not enjoy a veto-proof majority. So I see no way of them legislatively changing the way the vote has always been certified in Pennsylvania.
But what happens if...according to Bush vs Gore, it is the province of the States to determine how they choose their slate of electors. What’s interesting here, though...is that the Court’s ruling in Bush vs Gore, allowed THEIR Secretary of State, Katherine Harris...to certify the previously-certified vote count, and award the 25 EV’s from Florida to Bush.
Now this is where it gets interesting. Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2 of the US Constitution states that the State Legislatures decides how Electors are chosen.
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
However, it has already been established by past Legislatures in PA and other states, that the voters decide, and the Secretary of State (or Commonwealth in the case of PA) certifies that vote, which is then used to determine which slate of electors is sent.
It seems to ME...that they can’t just, on a whim, toss that out...they would have to do it legislatively. And the PA GOP, with its gerrymandered majorities...does NOT enjoy a veto-proof majority. So any such attempt would obviously be vetoed by Gov. Wolf.
Certainly they can go to court, and try to have the certification of votes enforced or thrown out, but they’d need to be able to show cause as to why this should be done. Like a very close election, such as Florida, 2000.
SO...my fellow former Pennsylvanians...GET YOUR ASS OUT AND VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN!! It needs to not even be close! Now, Pennsylvania does not have early voting the same way other states do...and it is way too late for a mail ballot.
This link takes you to an info page that tells you how to take advantage of Early Voting in Pennsylvania, using the newly-passed Act 77, which allows for Early Voting as soon as ballots are ready (when I lived in PA Early Voting was not even an option)
You cannot actually apply for and get a ballot early now, as the deadline to do that was today. However, if you already GOT a ballot, you may drop it off in person at your County Election Office or other designated location, which can be found on the link above. DON’T trust the Post Office! We need to get all the votes in Pennsylvania counted!! And, remember, Pennsylvania...it is the GOP that is literally trying to take away your right to vote, and unilaterally just GIVE Trump your state’s 20 EV’s!!
Remember that, when you vote, that the GOP wants to throw away your vote, and disregard the entire election, if Biden wins in a close election. If your vote did not matter, they would not try so hard to take it away from you!! Don’t let them!