The Third Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals has made a significant ruling in a voting case that will have an impact on how Pennsylvania handles absentee ballots. This ruling serves as a strong affirmation of the integrity of the election process.
By a decisive vote of 9 to 4, the court rejected a review of a previous ruling that upheld the requirement for a specific date on absentee ballots. This decision supports the rejection of absentee ballots that are submitted after the deadline, which is a major victory for those who support strict election laws.
The case involved various organizations advocating for voters’ rights, such as the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP branches. They challenged the rejection of absentee ballots that did not comply with the state law’s date requirement. The appellants argued that the date requirement was crucial in maintaining the integrity and orderliness of the voting process. This argument was supported by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and multiple county boards of elections.
When absentee votes are cast, problems can arise if dates are missing or if the information provided is inaccurate. Failure to meet the specific legal requirements, which often include a postmark date or the voter’s signature and date on an inner envelope, can lead to disqualification. It is important to note that different states and towns may have varying laws regarding this matter.
“Pennsylvania, like all other states, has devised a web of rules that qualified voters must follow to cast a ballot that will be counted. Mail-in and absentee voters, for their part, must sign and date the declaration printed on the return envelope containing their mail ballot,” Judge Ambro wrote.
“The date requirement, it turns out, serves little apparent purpose. It is not used to confirm the timely receipt of the ballot or to determine when the voter completed it. But the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that dating the envelope is mandatory, and undated or misdated ballots are invalid under its state law and must be set aside,” Judge Ambro added.
“The provision does not apply to rules, like the date requirement, that govern how a qualified voter must cast his ballot for it to be counted,” the court wrote. “Accordingly, we reverse the District Court’s decision and remand for further consideration of the pending equal protection claim.”
HUGE WIN FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY IN PA
Absentee ballots missing dates will not be counted https://t.co/2lR7hAB07E
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) April 30, 2024
