Judge Fast-Tracks Alaska Election Legal Fight as Officials Defend Ballots
Summary
A federal judge in Alaska set an expedited schedule for a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification of the U.S. Senate election in certain circumstances involving two candidates named Sullivan. Mary Peltola’s campaign and the League of Women Voters of Alaska seek to join the case, while state election officials defend the ballot design and the state’s election process.Key Facts
- Judge Sharon L. Gleason ordered the parties to follow an emergency schedule for motions to intervene and possible motions to dismiss.
- The Justice Department’s lawsuit seeks to prevent certification if Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan loses and would have won under a scenario that reassigned votes for Daniel J. Sullivan to him.
- Peltola’s campaign asked to intervene and pursue dismissal of the lawsuit.
- The League of Women Voters of Alaska and other voting rights groups also sought to intervene and argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed.
- The judge set deadlines for October 27, 28 and 29, and said she intended to rule on intervention by 5 p.m. on October 28.
- Alaska election officials said the ballots distinguished the candidates using their middle initials, a suffix, different first-name forms, party affiliation and an incumbent label.
- The election board said ballots were printed without legal challenge and argued that the federal government lacked authority over how candidates qualify for state ballots.
- Early voting began in most of Alaska on October 19, and Election Day is November 3.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
