HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A state judge overseeing a Republican-backed challenge to Libertarian Party candidates on Pennsylvania's ballot is making contingency plans to spread out the work among judges in two cities.

Commonwealth Court Senior Judge James Gardner Colins issued an order Wednesday assigning responsibility for a time-consuming, line-by-line review of about 13,000 contested petition signatures gathered from voters in Philadelphia.

Colins ordered that two Commonwealth Court judges in Philadelphia begin the review on Sept. 17. If more time is needed, he ordered that a third judge in Harrisburg be added starting Sept. 25.

Lawyers for both sides agree the Libertarians have accrued about 15,500 valid signatures of the 20,601 they need to keep their presidential nominee, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, and other statewide candidates on the ballot.

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Libertarian ballot fight may span 2 Pa. cities