Pennsylvania Supreme Court tosses lower court's decision on mail-in ballot dating requirement

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday threw out a lower court’s decision finding the requirement for voters to write the date on mail-in ballots to have them counted unconstitutional.

In a two-page order, the state’s highest court said the lower Commonwealth Court lacked jurisdiction to hear a challenge of the dating provision by voters’ rights groups.

Commonwealth Court ruled in a 4-1 decision last month that election officials in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties violated the Pennsylvania Constitution by refusing to count mail-in ballots with missing or incorrect dates. The majority concluded that the dating requirement violates the fair and equal elections clause of the constitution because it restricts the right to vote but does not serve a compelling governmental purpose.

Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee which led the appeal, said in a statement that the Supreme Court’s decision Friday was a “huge win” that would protect mail ballot security and help voters cast their ballots with confidence.




https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/pennsylvania-supreme-court-tosses-lower-courts-decision-on-mail-in-ballot-dating-requirement/