The Pennsylvania Supreme Court made a significant decision on Friday regarding the counting of mail-in ballots for the upcoming election. The court ruled that mail ballots missing the correct date will not be counted, which is considered a victory for Republicans.
This ruling comes after a lower court had previously stated that a requirement for voters to write the date they filled out the ballot on the envelope was unconstitutional. Voting rights groups had challenged this requirement, arguing that it had disenfranchised thousands of voters in past elections.
It is important to note that the impact of this new ruling on the current election remains uncertain. Many counties in Pennsylvania have processes in place to allow voters to correct technical defects on their mail-in ballots, known as a 'curing' process. Additionally, some counties offer provisional in-person voting for mail voters who have cast defective ballots.
However, Republicans are currently seeking to end the practice of provisional in-person voting through an emergency appeal pending at the US Supreme Court. This ongoing legal battle adds a layer of complexity to the voting procedures in Pennsylvania.
As the election draws near, the handling of mail-in ballots continues to be a contentious issue with implications for voter enfranchisement and the overall integrity of the electoral process. The decisions made by the courts in the coming days will play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the election in Pennsylvania.
