Thread by @JoshuaADouglas

BIG: #SCOTUS rejects PA Republicans' attempt to put on hold PA Supreme Court decision extending absentee ballot deadline by 3 days.

SCARY: Three justices think the Court should reverse

OH DEAR: "Additional opinions may follow" 1/

supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf…

Justice Alito writes for himself, Thomas, and Gorsuch. Barrett did not participate.

Alito starts off ominously: he fears "serious post-election problems" with PA Supreme Court decision. 2/

Alito makes uses some odd phrasing in his statement.

-He notes that PA Supreme Court was 4-3. So what?
-He uses “natural disaster,” in quotes as explaining the justification the PA Supreme Court gave for its ruling.

The contempt for the state supreme court just oozes out. 3/

Alito says that the PA election will be "conducted under a cloud" because SCOTUS refuses to step in. I think we know how he'll vote on the merits... 4/

Here's money line: he thinks PA S Ct. violated US Constitution by ruling--under state constitution--to protect right to vote and extend ballot receipt deadline.

This is HUGELY consequential. It would mean state courts can't protect right to vote under state constitutions. 5/

Finally, Alito says that it can grant review after the election. So that's 3 votes right there for Court to take this up in a post-election dispute if necessary. Will Barrett join? Will Roberts or Kavanaugh?

Let's hope the PA election is a blowout and we never find out! 6/

Bottom line: if you are a PA voter, return your ballot NOW! Don't risk it!

Hope for a blowout so later-arriving ballots won't make a difference.

Cause I fear that if this returns to the Court post-election, we might just not dodge the bullet that is this case once again. /end