Pennsylvania's Election Code is badly outdated. That could have serious consequences in 2024.

[FakeNoose]

Spotlight PA link: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/10/pennsylvania-election-code-voting-rules/

Spotlight PA launches a brief slide show of examples of the outdated election laws. If you scroll down through that, you'll get to the article that begins here:

HARRISBURG — On a rainy June Thursday, Pennsylvania lawmakers gathered in Harrisburg as the governor signed off on a complete revamp of the law that regulates elections. One new rule the legislature had landed on: the need to have lanterns, or a proper substitute, in polling places. The year was 1937, when electric lights were only in roughly two of every three American homes, and power was just starting to make its way to rural Pennsylvania. Today, that rule is still on the books....

Examples like these abound in Pennsylvania’s 270-page Election Code, which governs when, where, and how elections are run in the state. While county directors carry out elections on the ground, state law sets the rules they must abide by. Many obsolete provisions, like the need for lanterns, are simply ignored these days. But some outdated sections aren’t as amusing.

A review of the Election Code by Spotlight PA and Votebeat found that numerous conflicts between sections have led to confusion and lawsuits, and fueled misinformation. The law also does not address key legal precedents or reflect how elections are run in 2023 with evolving technologies.

Going into the 2024 presidential election, old rules will likely remain on the books and important new precedents won’t, a product of the divided legislature failing to agree on even the most basic changes that have bipartisan support. As in years past, this could contribute to electoral chaos, disenfranchise some voters, and attract more costly lawsuits.

- more at link -

This is a fairly long read, but well worth it. There are many examples of conflicts, misunderstandings and confusion which could lead to future lawsuits if the Pennsylvania election laws are not updated quickly. Considering what happened in 2020 we can assume that the RWNJs in this state are already looking for ways to overturn next year's election results.

[RandomNumbers]

1. I don't understand how the "lantern" clause is an issue

it says "or proper substitute".

Is anyone seriously going to argue that electric light isn't a "proper substitute" for a "lantern"?

ETA: reading further there are some important issues raised. I just don't think the lantern clause is a particularly good example.