In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it's almost certain the close presidential race will spur legal battles over early voting, long lines, fraud, and voter suppression – especially in swing states.
The lawsuits could delay election results, forcing those who are old enough to relive the epic fight between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
Here's a roundup of what we can expect:
- The first lawsuits may seek to keep polls open longer because of complications from the superstorm, Bloomberg Businessweek pointed out.
- Following the election, there could be legal fights over provisional ballots, which are cast when it's uncertain whether a person is really eligible to vote. These kinds of disputes could be especially drawn out in Ohio, where voters have 10 days to prove their eligibility, according to Boston.com.
- Virginia, which recently passed a Republican-backed voter ID law, will likely rely more on provisional ballots than other states and could consequently be a huge battleground, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
- Democrats are also poised to file lawsuits alleging voter intimidation and suppression. So-called "poll watchers" could be accused of interfering with voters' rights, Bloomberg pointed out.
While all of these lawsuits are certainly possible, Rick Hasen, an election law expert, recently told Business Insider what he thinks is the most likely dispute:
"The most likely scenario is a very close race in Ohio, with a fight over whether provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct because of poll worker error must be counted."
SEE ALSO: Obama's Lawyers Are Bracing For Massive Political Subterfuge In Ohio >
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