Legal representatives presented Thursday in state Commonwealth Court the qualifications of their clients to be involved in a lawsuit regarding the proposed congressional redistricting map for the 2022 election.

Republican county Commissioners Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer, Sheriff Mike Slupe and Summit Township residents are among 25 parties seeking to become “citizen-voter intervenors” in the suit against Veronica Degraffenreid, former acting secretary of the commonwealth, and Jessica Mathis, director of the bureau of election services and notaries. Judge Patricia McCullough said moving the case along briskly was of great importance, given the deadline for the congressional map, which must be signed into law by Jan. 24.

She asked each party what sets their interests apart from other appellants, and how their cases would not delay the proceedings.

The filing period for candidate nomination paperwork for the 2022 primary election is scheduled to begin Feb. 15 and a final congressional district map must be signed into law by Jan. 24 to ensure that the 2022 primary election can go forward as planned, according to the suit.

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