Democrat congressman sues Pennsylvania county he partially represents for not certifying election

Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Matt Cartwright sued the elections board of Luzerne County, an area that he partially represents, after the county board did not certify midterm elections because of paper shortages at polling locations. 

Represented by a Pennsylvania-based firm and a progressive elections organization, Elias Law Group, Cartwright filed the lawsuit Tuesday, arguing that the county was required under state law to certify elections during a meeting the previous day, The Hill reported.

The county board's two Republican members voted against certifying the vote on Monday while two Democrats voted in favor and one abstained.

"To certify an election, it's an attestation that we are witnessing the election process and can say that the process was carried out properly and successfully," GOP board member Alyssa Fusaro said at the meeting. She cited a paper shortage, printing problems and a lack of voter privacy as reasons why she voted against certification.

"Not only have we not carried out a successful election process, but there were several things — we can't say that this was conducted freely and fairly and that every vote counted," she said.

The lawsuit states that "boards must certify the result of election returns regardless of any error or fraud that is discovered during the count or certification process."

Cartwright represents parts of Luzerne County, which he lost by 2 percentage points while still narrowly winning reelection in the district.