Left-leaning groups and voting rights advocates have filed a lawsuit with Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, aiming to prevent counties from rejecting potentially thousands of mail-in ballots in the upcoming November election. The lawsuit concerns ballots that have an incorrect or missing date on the envelope, a requirement under Pennsylvania law. The plaintiffs argue that the presence or accuracy of a date should not determine the validity of a ballot, as it does not necessarily indicate timely arrival or voter eligibility. Democrats, including Governor Josh Shapiro, have supported the plaintiffs, while Republicans view the requirement as an important election safeguard.
This legal battle comes amidst the backdrop of an increasingly partisan debate over mail-in voting, with Democrats and Republicans in Pennsylvania sharply divided on the issue. Mail-in ballots have been a major point of contention, with a majority being cast by Democrats. Former President Donald Trump’s claims of widespread fraud associated with mail-in voting have only fueled the partisan divide even further. The state Supreme Court, comprised of five Democratic and two Republican justices, will play a crucial role in resolving these election disputes leading up to the presidential election, similar to its involvement in the 2020 election. The court will need to decide whether to take up this latest case filed by the left-leaning groups and voting rights advocates.
Additionally, the Republican National Committee and the state Republican Party have also brought a case to the Supreme Court, seeking to restrict counties from informing voters about potential rejection of their mail-in ballots. The GOP lawsuit aims to prevent counties from allowing voters to fix errors, such as missing signatures or dates on the envelope, and from casting provisional ballots in their place. The party argues that state law does not support such measures, while Democratic-controlled counties have been more proactive in helping voters correct errors or cast provisional ballots. Lower courts have already ruled in favor of allowing voters to cast provisional ballots in certain instances, potentially impacting hundreds or thousands of votes in the upcoming election.
The legal battle over mail-in ballots and election procedures in Pennsylvania underscores the high stakes involved in this critical battleground state. With the presidential election just six weeks away, the state’s Supreme Court is facing multiple election-related cases that could have far-reaching implications for the outcome. Democrats, voting rights advocates, and Republican groups are engaged in a fierce debate over the rules and safeguards surrounding mail-in voting, with each side pushing for their preferred approach. Ultimately, the decisions made by the state Supreme Court in the coming weeks could shape the electoral landscape in Pennsylvania and impact the results of the November election. Voters and political observers alike will be closely watching how these legal battles unfold in the lead-up to Election Day.
