Alaska officials ask judge to deny Trump administration’s ‘impossible’ demand to set aside Senate ballots

The Republican-led state government in Alaska implored a federal judge on Saturday to permanently dismiss the Trump administration’s lawsuit that seeks to block the certification of the Alaska Senate race if GOP Sen. Dan S. Sullivan loses.

“The United States’ opposition provides no reason for this Court to entertain this meritless lawsuit any longer,” the filing said, adding that “the relief demanded is inappropriate and not even possible given Alaskan voters’ vital right to ballot secrecy.”

The filing from Alaska officials comes just three days before Election Day and as the judge is expected to rule soon on whether to dismiss the lawsuit or continue with it.

The Trump administration has claimed that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign was involved in recruiting a retired teacher with the same name as Sullivan to run in the race, creating confusion that it says will unfairly take away votes intended for the incumbent. Peltola has denied the allegations.

The Trump administration filed a lawsuit Oct. 22 against local election officials, arguing that the results of the competitive Senate race should not be certified unless Sen. Dan S. Sullivan is declared the winner.

Alaska officials on Saturday criticized the legal basis on which…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business