Article Summary –
The Supreme Court rejected a GOP appeal that could have invalidated provisional ballots in Pennsylvania, benefiting voting-rights advocates. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court sided with Republicans by dismissing efforts to count mail-in ballots lacking a handwritten date. These decisions underscore ongoing litigation over mail voting in the state, crucial in presidential elections, with further legal challenges likely post-election.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Dual Rulings Impact Mail-In Ballots
DOYLESTOWN — The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an emergency appeal from Republicans on Friday, potentially affecting the count of thousands of provisional ballots in Pennsylvania. This decision comes as presidential campaigns intensify efforts in this vital battleground state.
The justices upheld a state Supreme Court ruling requiring election officials to count provisional ballots for voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected. This is a win for voting-rights advocates, who pushed for counties, especially Republican-led ones, to accept provisional ballots on Election Day if mail-in votes were rejected due to minor errors.
While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision was a blow to Republicans, they scored a win with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dismissing a push by voting rights activists to count mail-in ballots without accurate, handwritten dates on envelopes this election.
These decisions mark the latest chapter in a four-year legal battle over mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, a key state in presidential elections. Republicans have repeatedly sought strict interpretations to invalidate mail-in ballots, predominantly submitted by Democrats.
The simultaneous rulings will likely lead to more provisional voting on Election Day if mail-in ballots are rejected, possibly sparking further legal challenges.
State records indicate approximately 9,000 ballots out of 1.6 million returned to Pennsylvania election offices lack a secrecy envelope, signature, or handwritten date.
As the largest battleground state in this presidential election, Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes could significantly influence the outcome between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.
In previous elections, Pennsylvania was decided by a margin of tens of thousands of votes, with Trump winning in 2016 and Biden in 2020.
Witold Walczak, a voting-rights lawyer in Pennsylvania, predicts another court battle over undated ballots if the presidential race remains tight. “It’s almost certain that this is going to be raised again after the election, especially if it’s a close election,” Walczak, of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, commented.
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