Pennsylvania Judge Backs Trump Claims Over Mail-In Ballots, Says ‘Unlikely Constitutional’

After a Pennsylvania Judge blocked the state from ‘taking any further steps’ to complete the certification of the presidential race on Wednesday – she dropped a detailed opinion on Friday justifying her decision, which concludes that the state’s changes to mail-in balloting procedures were likely illegal.

The order is currently delayed while the state Supreme Court considers the case on an expedited basis, which was filed by a group of Republicans.

Pennsylvania trial court rules the 2020 election was likely unconstitutional in Pennsylvania, and that gives state legislators power to choose electors. https://t.co/pWt9g81ld1

— Robert Barnes (@Barnes_Law) November 28, 2020

Commonwealth Judge Patricia McCullough noted in her opinion that the plaintiffs “have established a likelihood to succeed on the merits” of the case, because “the Constitution does not provide a mechanism for the legislature to allow for the expansion of absentee voting without a constitutional amendment.”

BREAKING REPORT: Judge Patricia A. McCullough rules that PA preliminary ELECTION CERTIFICATION injunction was PROPERLY ISSUED and should be upheld..

“Additionally, Petitioners appear to have established a
likelihood to succeed.”

— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) November 28, 2020

“Petitioners appear to have a viable claim that the mail-in ballot procedures set forth in Act 77 contravene Pa. Const. Article VII Section 14 as the plain language of that constitutional provision is at odds with the mail-in provisions of Act 77.“

Judge McCullough adds that without the emergency injunction, the plaintiffs would likely suffer “irreparable harm.”

“If what may be an unconstitutional mail-in voting process remains extant, such mail-in ballots may make the difference as to whether he is successful or not.”

In short; Judge McCullough believes that Pennsylvania’s last-minute changes to mail-in ballots was likely unconstitutional, and if allowed to remain in place may negatively affect at least one of the plaintiffs (a GOP congressman) in future elections.