Pennsylvania Mail-In Ballots Court Ruling Declares Date Rejection Unconstitutional

The latest Pennsylvania Mail-In Ballots Court Ruling has declared it unconstitutional for the state to throw out mail ballots simply because the return envelope lacks an accurate handwritten date. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous decision Tuesday, striking down the practice that has led to the disqualification of thousands of otherwise valid votes.

In its 55-page opinion, the three-judge panel said it had to weigh the state’s interest in enforcing the date requirement against the constitutional right to vote. Ultimately, the panel concluded it was “unable to justify” a policy that resulted in large numbers of valid votes being discarded.

Background of the Court Ruling

Under Pennsylvania law, voters must write the date on the outside of their mail-in ballot envelope. However, many voters mistakenly leave it blank or write another date, such as their birthday. Previous lawsuits have repeatedly forced election officials to count such ballots, though higher courts often reinstated the requirement.

The Pennsylvania Mail-In Ballots Court Ruling changes that dynamic by explicitly affirming that rejecting ballots over dates is unconstitutional disenfranchisement. Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, called the requirement “unconstitutional” and praised the decision as a victory for voter rights.

Who Supported and Opposed the Lawsuit

The lawsuit was supported by groups including the American Federation of Teachers of Pennsylvania, Common Cause Pennsylvania, the League of Women Voters, and the Pennsylvania NAACP. Wendy Coleman, AFT Pennsylvania’s president, hailed the ruling as “a victory for Pennsylvania voters and our democracy.”

Opposition came from the Republican National Committee, the state GOP, and the House Republican campaign arm. They argued the date rule protects election security. However, election officials testified that the date serves no practical purpose in verifying ballot validity.

Potential Supreme Court Involvement

While this decision is binding, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has also agreed to review the issue. For the ruling to be overturned, the U.S. Supreme Court would have to take up the case. Republicans have not yet announced whether they will appeal.

The Pennsylvania Mail-In Ballots Court Ruling is significant because even a small percentage of discarded ballots can influence outcomes in a closely divided battleground state. Democrats typically cast more mail-in ballots than Republicans, a trend intensified after Donald Trump’s attacks on the process.

The unanimous federal appeals court decision reinforces the constitutional right to vote by limiting technical disqualifications. With Pennsylvania poised to be a critical swing state in 2024 and beyond, the Pennsylvania Mail-In Ballots Court Ruling could have far-reaching consequences for election outcomes and voter access.

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Author: Sean Probber

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