The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled on Thursday that Butler County must count provisional ballots from voters whose mail ballots were rejected due to an error. The decision sets a statewide standard and is part of ongoing legal battles over voting rules ahead of the November election. Another case involving the rejection of ballots due to improperly dated return envelopes is also being appealed, with the state Supreme Court set to make a decision.
The outcome of these cases, which could impact how the election is conducted and whose votes are counted, is crucial in a closely contested presidential race in Pennsylvania between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The Butler County case involved two voters whose ballots were rejected for not being returned in a secrecy envelope, leading to the county rejecting their provisional ballots as well. The ACLU of Pennsylvania and the Public Interest Law Center sued on behalf of the voters, arguing that the rejection was a misinterpretation of the state’s Election Code.
The Commonwealth Court ruled that the county erred in rejecting the provisional ballots, providing clarity on the issue. The decision has been hailed as a victory for voting rights by advocates. Additionally, the state Supreme Court is considering a case on the requirement for correct dating on ballot return envelopes, with the potential to impact thousands of rejected ballots. The court may decide the case based on written arguments alone, with no date set for a hearing as of Thursday.
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