GOP congressmen from PA file federal lawsuit to increase scrutiny of votes cast by U.S. citizens overseas, a group including many military

The lawmakers claim in the suit, which was filed this week, that because local election officials in Pennsylvania are not required to verify the identity or eligibility of voters who register overseas, those ballots are vulnerable to fraud. They have asked a federal judge to require officials to set aside completed ballots and not count them until voter eligibility can be determined.

The lawsuit is notable for targeting a group of voters long thought to favor Republicans because of the prevalence of military personnel stationed overseas, but that is now seen as more evenly divided or even leaning Democratic. The suit adds to a long list of Republican-backed litigation around the country with just weeks to go before the Nov. 5 election, with much of it aimed at disqualifying mail-in votes or removing ineligible voters from rolls.

Critics ... said the suit, if successful, could cause the disqualification of thousands of eligible ballots.

The suit claims that Pennsylvania’s rules regarding overseas voting violate state and federal law, but critics say that is not true. Federal law defers to states to establish election rules, and it also specifically calls for the process of overseas voting to not be unduly burdensome.

Pennsylvania law governing overseas voting, which has been in place for decades, requires Americans abroad to be previous residents of Pennsylvania and to attest to their eligibility.

Judge scraps GOP effort to challenge Pa. handling of military, overseas ballots​

The complaint was brought by Reps. Guy Reschenthaler, Dan Meuser, Glenn "GT" Thompson, Lloyd Smucker, Mike Kelly, with Scott Perry added later, in collaboration with the group PA Fair Elections, an election denial organization.

in related news:

RNC’s overseas ballot challenge in North Carolina rejected by appeals court​

Federal law mandates certain protections so that servicemembers stationed abroad and U.S. citizens living overseas can participate in elections.