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DECISION 2020: Reviewing ballot-viewing law amid President Trump campaign lawsuits

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TULSA, Okla. — Judges in Michigan and Georgia dismissed lawsuits by the President Trump campaign to halt ballot-counting. The lawsuits alleged campaign observers were not allowed access to the ballot-counting process.

READ MORE: Michigan judge dismisses Trump campaign lawsuit over absentee ballots

"This is really action that the Trump campaign telegraphed," Oklahoma State University Political Science Professor Dr. Matt Motta said. "It's possible for anybody including partisan members of the campaign to watch that process."

The campaign filed lawsuits in Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

The lawsuit in Michigan alleged ballot-counting groups were not bipartisan. In Georgia, the lawsuit said poll watchers in Chatham County claimed 53 late absentee ballots were counted.

READ MORE: Georgia judge dismisses Trump campaign lawsuit regarding handful of absentee ballots

Allegations in both cases were denied officials and thrown out by judges.

In Tulsa County, the election board had a public viewing area for anyone to watch the absentee ballot tabulation and count, just feet from the affidavits and paper ballots.

The U.S. Election Board Assistance Commission requires a "formal observation area" for viewers.

"He and others feel his team is being denied sufficient access to that process," Dr. Motta said.

The makeup of the Tulsa County Election Board is bipartisan. A Tulsa County Republican Party and Democratic Party representative are on the three-person committee with Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman.

They oversee the ballot count and vote on any absentee under review.

The EAC requires a similar adjudication process in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

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