Breaking News: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules Mail-in Ballots May be Thrown Out Due to Inaccurate Dates on Envelopes
The state of Pennsylvania faces a critical dilemma as the Supreme Court rules that mail-in ballots without accurate dates on return envelopes may be discarded. This ruling could have significant implications for the upcoming presidential race.
The high court’s decision, based on procedural grounds, overturns a lower court ruling that deemed the mandate unenforceable. The case failed to involve all 67 counties’ election boards, as it only targeted Philadelphia and Allegheny counties, leaving doubts about the validity of thousands of ballots.
This latest development raises concerns that ballots arriving on time could be disqualified, potentially impacting the outcome of a closely contested presidential election in a crucial swing state.
Notably, more Democrats than Republicans opt for mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, with older voters bearing the brunt of invalidated ballots due to envelope date discrepancies.
In a split 4-3 decision, two Democratic justices sided with Republicans to vacate the Commonwealth Court’s ruling, prompting dissatisfaction among the dissenting justices who argued for a resolution on the constitutional question at hand.
The lawsuit, originally filed in May, challenges the enforceability of the mandate under a provision guaranteeing free and fair elections in the state constitution.
If history is any indication, over 10,000 ballots in the upcoming general election could face rejection over envelope issues, potentially swaying the presidential race given Pennsylvania’s crucial 19 electoral votes.
Aside from the presidential race, Pennsylvania voters will weigh in on other critical elections, including the contest between incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican opponent Dave McCormick, as well as numerous state legislative and executive races.
As the legal battle unfolds, both sides await further developments that could shape the electoral landscape in Pennsylvania and beyond.
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