Statement on PA Supreme Court Decision on Undated Ballots

Yesterday, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ordered county election offices to “refrain from counting” undated or misdated mail ballots in next week’s midterm election, a decision that could invalidate at least thousands of otherwise acceptable ballots. More legal action is possible.

The League is disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision, which disenfranchises Pennsylvanians who exercised their right to vote, and made a minor clerical error in the process. We will keep fighting so that ALL voters, no matter their party, where they live, or the manner in which they cast a ballot, will have their vote count.

The Pennsylvania Department of State issued the following statement in response to the ruling:

”We are reviewing today’s order, but the order underscores the importance of the state’s consistent guidance that voters should carefully follow all instructions on their mail ballot and double-check it before returning it.  Any voter who has already sent in their ballot and is concerned they might have made an error should check with their county elections board or call the Department of State’s year-round voter hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA.”

The League’s message to voters this week is clear: Return your ballot as soon as possible, and carefully follow all instructions when returning your mail-in ballot. Complete your entire ballot, place your ballot in the secrecy envelope, place your secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed return envelope, and sign and date the return envelope.

Questions? Contact your county elections office or call 1-877-VOTESPA.