In a pivotal decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled against counting undated mail-in ballots in the upcoming 2024 election.
The highest court in Pennsylvania has reversed a lower court's ruling that found the requirement for handwritten dates on mail-in ballots unconstitutional, Fox News reported.
The outcome of this legal battle stemmed from a challenge by the Pennsylvania GOP, who appealed a verdict from the Commonwealth Court. This latter judgment had initially declared the dating of ballots a constitutional misstep, prompting a swift response from higher judicial authorities.
The Supreme Court's verdict was significantly influenced by Justice Kevin Dougherty's criticism of the previous ruling. In his view, the Commonwealth Court had not adhered to established legal standards concerning election procedures.
Justice Kevin Dougherty remarked on the necessity of adherence to existing laws. "This Court will neither impose nor countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election. We said those carefully chosen words only weeks ago. Yet they apparently were not heard in the Commonwealth Court, the very court where the bulk of election litigation unfolds."
He further underscored the court's intention to maintain legislative continuity in his concluding remarks.
Justice Kevin Dougherty further reiterated the Court's stance, emphasizing a commitment to consistent election law enforcement across the state courts.
"Today’s order, which I join, rights the ship. And it sends a loud message to all courts in this Commonwealth: in declaring we would not countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election, we said what we meant and meant what we said."
This strong statement intends to clarify the Supreme Court's position on election laws during critical periods such as ongoing elections.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley welcomed the decision, highlighting its role in preserving the integrity of the electoral process. He commended the court for upholding a rule critical to ensuring ballot security.
Chairman Whatley expressed continued commitment from the Republican Party to uphold what they perceive as necessary safeguards within the electoral system, aiming to protect the vote throughout Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Department of State had argued that removing the requirement for handwritten dates would ease the logistical efforts of election workers. They contended that it would reduce the manual labor involved in verifying each ballot's compliance.
However, with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's latest ruling, the requirement will remain in effect, marking the second instance this month where the court has intervened to maintain the dating of mail-in ballots.
As election day approaches, this decision underscores the high stakes involved in the administration of mail-in voting and the rigorous standards imposed to secure the voting process.
Both the legal community and the electorate will be observing closely how these regulatory requirements affect the turnout and results of the 2024 elections in Pennsylvania. This ruling not only emphasizes the legal adherence to detail in the voting process but also highlights the ongoing debate over voting rights and election security.
