The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has issued a ruling that mail-in ballots without correct dates on envelopes will not be counted in elections.
This decision, reported by Fox News, could have significant implications for the upcoming presidential election in the battleground state, where 19 electoral college votes are at stake.
The high court's decision overturned a lower court's previous ruling that had halted the enforcement of the handwritten date requirement on exterior envelopes. The justices ruled 4-3, with two Democrats joining both Republicans on the Supreme Court to vacate the Commonwealth Court decision, citing procedural grounds for their ruling.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ruling was based on procedural grounds, stating that the lower Commonwealth Court should not have taken up the case because it did not involve election boards from all 67 counties in the state. The lawsuit, filed by left-leaning groups, only targeted two counties - Philadelphia and Allegheny.
In its decision, the high court emphasized that the Commonwealth Court "lacked subject matter jurisdiction to review the matter." This technicality effectively reinstated the requirement for mail-in ballots to have correct dates on their envelopes to be counted in elections.
The ruling has sparked mixed reactions from various political entities and voting rights advocates, with some viewing it as a victory for election integrity and others expressing concern about potential disenfranchisement of voters.
The court's decision could prove crucial in the 2024 presidential election, given Pennsylvania's status as a key battleground state. In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden won Pennsylvania by a margin of more than 80,000 votes, underscoring the state's importance in determining the overall outcome.
Recent campaign activities in Pennsylvania by former President Trump and Vice-President Harris highlight the state's significance in the upcoming election. Both candidates have been actively engaging with voters in the Keystone State, recognizing its potential to sway the final results.
The ruling's impact may be particularly significant considering the high number of mail-in ballots used in recent elections. In the April primary election, over 800,000 people requested mail ballots, with officials disqualifying nearly 16,000 for irregularities, including missing signatures and incorrect dates on outer envelopes.
The decision has elicited strong reactions from both political parties and voting rights advocates. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley hailed the ruling as a significant victory for election integrity. He stated:
Following legal action from the RNC and @PAGOP [Republican Party of Pennsylvania], the PA Supreme Court REJECTED a Democrat attempt to count undated ballots. This makes mail voting in the Keystone State less susceptible to fraud. We will keep fighting and winning!
On the other hand, Steve Loney, the senior supervising attorney for the ACLU in Pennsylvania, expressed disappointment with the ruling, viewing it as a setback for Pennsylvania voters. Loney argued:
These eligible voters who got their ballots in on time should have their votes counted and voices heard. The fundamental right to vote is among the most precious rights we enjoy as Pennsylvanians, and it should take more than a trivial paperwork error to take it away.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ruling on mail-in ballots without correct dates has significant implications for the upcoming presidential election. The decision, based on procedural grounds, overturned a lower court's ruling and reinstated the requirement for properly dated envelopes. This could impact the counting of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state with 19 electoral votes. The ruling has sparked contrasting reactions from political parties and voting rights advocates, highlighting the ongoing debate over election integrity and voter access.
