Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Supports State Supreme Court Ruling On Ballots

The United States Supreme Court Building in Washington

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has thrown his support behind the state's high court after a ruling that faulty mail-in ballots cannot be counted during a contentious recount, resulting in a victory for Republican Party officials.

The state Supreme Court upheld its previous decision in a 4–3 ruling on Monday, stating that counties are not permitted to count incorrectly dated or undated ballots. The ruling specifically called out the Boards of Elections in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County, instructing them to comply with the court's prior rulings regarding mail-in and absentee ballots.

Shapiro, a Democrat, emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law in Pennsylvania, stating that any suggestion of disregarding laws undermines faith in the electoral process. He pledged to continue working to safeguard democracy and the votes of all eligible Pennsylvanians.

Following the initial ruling on November 1, which declared that mail-in ballots lacking required signatures or dates should not be counted, Democratic-led election boards in several counties, including Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Centre County, opted to include such ballots in the recount, defying the court's decision.

State Supreme Court prohibits counting incorrectly dated or undated mail-in ballots.

Governor Shapiro backs state Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballots.

Democratic-led election boards in several counties defied court's decision on mail-in ballots.

The recent ruling by the high court comes amidst a series of lawsuits filed by Republican Party officials in the midst of a Senate recount effort following GOP candidate David McCormick's narrow victory over three-term Democrat Senator Bob Casey. McCormick secured a win by a margin of approximately 17,000 votes, triggering an automatic recount under Pennsylvania law.

Republican National Committee criticized Shapiro for not promptly supporting the court's actions, while a Trump campaign official warned that Pennsylvania elections officials could face legal consequences for counting incorrect mail-in ballots.

The ruling serves as a significant development in the ongoing recount process in Pennsylvania, highlighting the importance of adhering to electoral laws and upholding the integrity of the voting system.