In a significant move ahead of the upcoming election, Republicans are urging Pennsylvania’s highest court to rule that undated and misdated mail-in ballots should be excluded from counting. This appeal, filed by the Republican National Committee alongside the state Republican Party, follows a contentious ruling from the Commonwealth Court that could affect the integrity of the voting process.
The Commonwealth Court’s recent decision, which narrowly passed with a 3-2 vote, allowed 69 misdated and undated ballots from a September special election to be counted. GOP attorneys argue that this ruling has created confusion and may lead election boards statewide to adopt a similar stance, potentially counting ballots that should be deemed invalid. In their motion to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, they expressed concern that this situation could alter outcomes in critical races, including the presidential election and control of the U.S. Senate.
The GOP’s argument hinges on the notion that allowing the counting of such ballots could undermine the electoral process. They cautioned that if county boards of elections were to follow the Commonwealth Court’s lead, it could jeopardize the fairness of future elections. The attorneys emphasized the importance of clarity in election rules, asserting that the prospect of altering results based on misdated or undated ballots necessitates urgent judicial intervention.
Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a 6-1 decision, declined to preemptively address whether undated ballots should be counted before the election. This refusal to act has raised alarms, particularly as mail-in voting in Pennsylvania has been skewed in favor of Democrats, who utilize this option at higher rates than their Republican counterparts. Consequently, rejecting undated ballots could disproportionately disenfranchise Democratic voters, amplifying concerns over election fairness.
This ongoing legal battle is further complicated by past controversies surrounding Pennsylvania’s election rules, particularly the controversial changes made in 2020, which many Republicans argue were enacted illegally. These modifications have set a precedent that now fuels the current disputes regarding ballot validity.
As the election approaches, the stakes are high. The GOP is pushing for decisive action from the Supreme Court to clarify these issues and protect what they argue are the fundamental principles of election integrity. The implications of this case could resonate well beyond the immediate election, potentially reshaping the landscape of voting laws in Pennsylvania for years to come.
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