Pennsylvania judge vows to move quickly on dispute over mail-in votes

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The judge in a case brought by Gov. Tom Wolf's administration against three counties that aren't reporting mail-in ballots lacking handwritten dates on their return envelopes told lawyers Friday she will rule as quickly as possible.Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer presided over an online conference in the litigation brought by the Department of State under Wolf, a Democrat, against three Republican-majority counties over about 800 mail-in ballots from the May primary.The counties argue the ballots shouldn't be counted because of the legal requirement for the exterior envelope dates, which are not used to determine if voters are eligible or if the ballots are received in time.Wolf sued Berks, Fayette and Lancaster counties a month ago, seeking a court order to compel them to "certify" the mail-in votes in question.

Cohn Jubelirer, an elected Republican jurist, said Friday she "will work very diligently" to issue an opinion.The dispute has stalled certifications of statewide results from the primary in the high-profile races for Pennsylvania governor and U.S.

Senate, as well as results for congressional and state legislative contests involving the three counties.A Berks County commissioner testified last month that in his county, which invalidated the most ballots, adding them could change down-ballot races for state party.The dispute has also created problems for a Republican state House member from Fayette who has sued, seeking to withdraw from his reelection contest even though his status as primary winner has yet to be certified.The case became more complicated last week, when one of the lawyers learned a fourth elections board, in Butler County, also had not certified the mail-in ballots.