Republicans are gearing up to take a recent decision by Pennsylvania's highest state court regarding the counting of provisional ballots to the US Supreme Court. The ruling in question ordered the inclusion of provisional ballots cast by eligible voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected due to technical issues.
The legal battle stems from a case brought by residents of Butler County, Pennsylvania, who took legal action against the county for failing to count their provisional ballots in the 2024 primary after their initial mail-in ballots were invalidated. Both the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee have become involved in the case, with Democrats advocating for the counting of the disputed provisional ballots.
Following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision in favor of the voters, the Republican National Committee has signaled its intent to seek intervention from the US Supreme Court. The RNC's lawyers have filed a request asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to halt the recent ruling until the US Supreme Court can weigh in on the matter.
The exact number of affected ballots remains uncertain, as not all counties inform voters in advance if their mail-in ballots have been disqualified. Additionally, some counties offer voters the opportunity to rectify errors on their mail-in ballots, such as missing signatures or incorrect dates.
Given the tight race in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state in the presidential election, both political parties are bracing for a legal showdown over the fate of these ballots. With polls indicating a close contest for the White House, every ballot is poised to become a point of contention.
In the event that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declines to stay its ruling, the RNC has proposed that the disputed ballots be segregated, potentially setting the stage for post-election legal disputes over their validity.
