ATLANTA – In the U.S., legal experts, campaign attorneys, and organizations tied to elections are bracing for a potential surge of lawsuits related to the upcoming election results.

Before the election took place, courts in hotspot states experienced numerous lawsuits concerning state voter lists, sudden changes to election rules, criteria for counting mail-in ballots, and whether local jurisdictions need to certify their results. The founder of a prominent group, United Sovereign Americans, known for contesting registration lists, informed YSL News in October of plans to pursue legal action following the announcement of results.

According to a memo from October that was accessed by YSL News, attorneys for the Harris campaign and Democratic National Committee expressed readiness for post-election legal disputes, citing the previous efforts by former President Donald Trump to contest President Joe Biden’s 2020 win.

“We have strategized for four years to achieve victories both at the polls and in the courtroom, striving to guarantee another free and fair election,” stated Dana Remus and Monica Guardiola, lawyers with significant roles in the Harris campaign and Democratic National Committee, respectively.

Claire Zunk, the communications director for the Republican National Committee’s election integrity effort, described the Republican Party’s legal efforts in elections as an “unprecedented” move aimed at protecting lawful votes.

“With over 230,000 volunteers engaged to Protect the Vote, this is the most comprehensive election integrity initiative the party has ever executed,” Zunk stated to YSL News.

Attorneys general on alert

“We had to be prepared because there will be those who, regardless of the election result, will claim victory,” remarked Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Democratic attorney general.

Ellison mentioned that his office is ready for various scenarios, such as a local jurisdiction refusing to certify the results. Local certification plays a vital role in the validation of state election outcomes.

Since 2020, numerous local county officials nationwide have either delayed certifying results or have declined to certify them. So far, none of these attempts have been successful in altering outcomes. Recently, a judge in Georgia mandated that county officials must complete their certification by the November 12 deadline.

In Reno, Nevada, a majority of the election board voted against certifying results for two local elections in July, although some members reversed their position, and certification was achieved about a week later.

Nevada’s Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford informed YSL News that certification is just one aspect his office is prepared to address in court after Election Day. The state has already faced lawsuits from Republican-associated groups concerning voter registration and deadlines for mail-in ballots.

“I don’t think anyone expected what transpired in 2020,” Ford said. “We’re much better prepared this time around.”

In response to YSL News inquiries regarding his office’s preparedness for potential post-Election Day lawsuits, Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asserted that his office is “battle tested” and has established procedures in place.

Voting rights organizations on standby

Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, stated that the committee represented the NAACP in 15 cases from Election Day 2020 until the Capitol attack on January 6. He regards lawsuits in Georgia concerning county certifications and the sudden requirement for poll workers to manually count ballots as “practice runs” for what might follow in court after Tuesday.

“We must avoid allowing this to devolve into a partisan conflict or a clash between candidates,” Hewitt emphasized.

According to an advisor for voting rights at the NAACP, the national body has engaged in some legal measures before the election, including participating in a lawsuit concerning the hand-count regulation. Recently, the Georgia Supreme Court chose not to intervene in this matter after a trial court ruled the regulation as unlawful.

“We have implemented numerous initiatives, alongside our partners, mainly as a preventative measure. This is to minimize conflicts that may arise on Election Day and afterwards,” Owens shared.

‘F*** around and find out’: Nevada AG’s warning on election violence

Nevada’s Democratic Attorney General, Aaron Ford, stated that his office is not only preparing for possible legal challenges but is also taking steps to address any potential political violence following the election.

Governors from several states, including Nevada’s Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, have activated the National Guard to assist local law enforcement on Election Day. Local offices are also ensuring the safety of election staff by equipping them with panic buttons and bulletproof glass.

Philadelphia’s District Attorney, Larry Krasner, issued a stern warning on Monday to anyone thinking of resorting to violence during the election.

“I want to be very clear, anyone considering taking militia actions, just remember: F around and find out,” Krasner cautioned.

Ford reinforced this sentiment on Tuesday.

“I want to echo what has been expressed in Philadelphia; pardon my French, but if they choose to mess around, they will find out,” Ford told YSL News. “We will take legal action against those who intimidate voters.”