The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on Friday that mail-in ballots missing dates or with incorrect dates will not be counted in the upcoming election, affirming a previous position that has sparked controversy.
This 3-2 ruling responds to an emergency appeal filed by the Republican National Committee, which aimed to prevent lower court rulings that would allow such ballots, citing them as a violation of state law.
The case involved 69 undated or misdated ballots from a recent September special election, which Republicans highlighted as a potential source of dispute leading up to the presidential election, where Pennsylvania’s results could be critical.
Although these ballots did not affect the outcome of that election, the GOP argued that the ruling sets a precedent that could leave thousands of ballots at risk in the battleground state.
In its decision, the Supreme Court stated that the lower court’s ruling “shall not be applied to the November 5, 2024 General Election.”
Justice Kevin Dougherty, in a concurring opinion, criticized the lower court for what he called unnecessary deviation from established rules, emphasizing the importance of upholding election procedures consistently.
Dougherty warned lower courts to “think twice — maybe even three