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Pennsylvania Supreme Court sides with GOP in last-minute mail ballot dispute
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Pennsylvania Supreme Court sides with GOP in last-minute mail ballot dispute

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has halted an attempt to allow hand-written, undated mail-in ballots to be counted in the 2024 election.

The ruling overturned a Commonwealth Court ruling that a state law requiring the date to be written by hand was unconstitutional. Pennsylvania GOP He appealed the decision to the state supreme court and now undated mail-in ballots will not be counted in the upcoming election.

In a strongly worded opinion on Friday’s decision, Judge Kevin Dougherty admonished the Commonwealth Court for its decision.

“‘This Court will neither impose nor condone significant changes to existing laws and procedures while ongoing elections are ongoing.’ We spoke these carefully chosen words just weeks ago, but they appear to have gone unheard in Commonwealth Court, the court where the bulk of election cases arise,” Dougherty wrote.

26 REPUBLICAN LAWYERS JOIN VIRGINIA IN SUPREME COURT APPLICATION TO DECISION ON VOTER REGISTRATIONS

Voting applications

Mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania must include a handwritten date to be counted in the 2024 election, following a ruling by the state supreme court. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

“Today’s order, with which I join, right the ship. And it sends a loud message to every court in the Commonwealth: we have said what we will do, declaring that we will not allow significant changes to existing laws and procedures pending an ongoing election.” “He meant and meant what we said,” he continued.

COURT RULES OBJECTED AGAINST GOP IN CASE OF FORCED 225 THOUSAND VOTER REGISTRATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Republicans in Pennsylvania welcomed the Friday decision, saying Democrats have repeatedly tried to overturn the dating requirement.

“The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the law and the dated ballot requirement will apply this election. Democrats have repeatedly tried to eliminate this important voting protection, and we have stopped them every time,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement. he said. . “We are committed to protecting critical ballot measures to ensure every ballot is cast and counted correctly, and we will continue to fight for Vote Protection across Pennsylvania.”

Pennsylvania for Harris signature

Stickers and a banner supporting U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris are displayed outside the on-demand voting and voting center in front of the Bucks County Executive building on October 31, 2024 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. (Ed JONES / AFP)

State officials who advocate allowing undated ballots to be counted argue that this change will make the process easier for election workers. The Pennsylvania Department of State filed a brief in favor of the amendment ahead of the court’s decision on Friday.

1.6 MILLION VOTERS THAT COULD DETERMINE US ELECTIONS CURRENTLY RESIDE IN THE COUNTRY

“The requirement for county boards to set aside mail ballots with return date errors — and especially the requirement to set aside mail ballots with ‘incorrect’ dates — has placed a significant burden on county boards. Election officials must manually review each ballot Pennsylvania Capital-Star” According to the briefing, it was stated that it would be determined whether it had a “correct” date.

"I voted" stickers

As Americans head to the polls, Republicans and Democrats are fighting over election policies. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County, credited via Getty Images)

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Friday’s decision was the second this month. Pennsylvania Supreme Court He blocked Democratic-backed efforts to eliminate the dating requirement.