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A Lycoming County judge has decided there will not be a forensic audit of the 2020 general election in the county, according to a report on PennLive.com.
County Judge Eric R. Linhardt dismissed a complaint in which conservative activists Richard Houser and Catherine Burns argued there was evidence of fraud and irregularities, PennLive's John Beauge reported. The plaintiffs also claimed the county commissioners and director of elections Forrest K. Lehman failed to adequately investigate their allegations.
In his ruling, Linhardt noted there is no provision in the state Election Code in which an independent entity can compel the board of elections to conduct an audit. The judge further found that Houser and Burns did not closely adhere to the statutory requirements to challenge election results after certification.
The plaintiffs' efforts did not include a petition of at least 100 electors who voted in the election with a verification affidavit signed by at least five of them, Linhardt ruled, according to PennLive. A bond also must be posted within five days of the petition being filed, which did not occur. As such, the court lacked jurisdiction to issue any order affecting the 2020 election results, he concluded.
"It's a very troubling decision," said Gregory Stapp, who represents Houser and Burns, told PennLive.
Stapp said he will advocate the plaintiffs appeal Linhardt's decision to Commonwealth Court.