Another lawsuit targets Philly voting machines
HARRISBURG, PA. >> Pennsylvania is facing another lawsuit over its certification of a voting machine bought by Philadelphia and that was at the center of an undercount in one Pennsylvania county’s election last month.
The lawsuit was filed late last week by a pair of election security advocacy organizations and 13 registered voters who live in Philadelphia or Northampton County, where the undercount occurred.
The lawsuit asks the state Commonwealth Court to block Pennsylvania’s certification of the ExpressVote XL touchscreen system made by Omaha, Nebraskabased Election Systems & Software.
The plaintiffs say the voting system can’t ensure that each vote is properly recorded and counted, doesn’t allow voters to keep their choices secret, doesn’t offer equal access to disabled voters and uses ballot cards that don’t comply with state requirements.
Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration declined comment Monday. It will have 30 days to respond in court. In a separate case in Philadelphia’s federal court, Wolf’s administration is defending its certification of the ExpressVote XL.
Wolf’s administration is in the midst of requiring counties to replace their voting machines ahead of 2020’s presidential elections, when Pennsylvania is expected to be a premier presidential battleground.
ES&S has said the ExpressVote XL meets and exceeds the highest standards for security, accuracy and accessibility.
State troopers probe death of premature newborn
INDIANA, PA. >> Pennsylvania state police were investigating the death of a premature newborn that occurred early Monday at Indiana Regional Medical Center.
Authorities have not released any information about the boy.
“The cause and manner of death are pending and an autopsy was scheduled,”state police said in a statement. “The Indiana County District Attorney’s Office and the Troop A Forensic Services Unite are also assisting with this investigation.”
The investigation was ongoing.
Another Pennsylvania House Democrat backs Trump impeachment
HARRISBURG, PA. >> Another House Democrat from Pennsylvania has come out in support of the two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump that were scheduled for a full House vote on Wednesday.
Four-term Rep. Matt Cartwright of northeastern Pennsylvania revealed his decision in an opinion piece published Monday in USA Today.
Cartwright easily won reelection in 2018 and 2016, although Trump won his district by nearly 10 percentage points in 2016 over Democrat Hillary Clinton. That’s made Cartwright a target of Republicans.
Eight of nine Pennsylvania Democrats in the House now support the articles of impeachment. One Democrat, freshman Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of suburban Philadelphia, hasn’t revealed a decision. Clinton easily won Houlahan’s district in 2016.
All nine Republican House members from Pennsylvania have said they will vote against the articles. That includes Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of suburban Philadelphia, who on occasion breaks party ranks to vote with Democrats. Clinton narrowly won Fitzpatrick’s district in 2016.
Trump is the fourth U.S. president to face impeachment proceedings and the first to run for reelection at the same time.
Vehicular homicide, DUI charges filed in double-fatal crash
PHILADELPHA >> Vehicular homicide and driving under the influence charges have been filed against a driver involved in an early morning crash in northeast Philadelphia that claimed the lives of two people and injured four others, including the defendant, police said.
Nehamiah Carstephen,
27, was driving a car that ran a red light in the Mayfair section of the city and slammed into a car carrying four women shortly after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, police said.
Ciara Parker was pronounced dead at the scene, and Carstephen’s nephew, Rashaan Cole, 18 was pronounced dead three hours later, police said. A 29-yearold woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition while a 30-year-old woman and an 18-year-old woman were listed as stable, police said.