Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled to allow for mail-in ballots to be counted that are received up to three days following the election day deadline.
Especially with concerns that the US Postal Service could be operating more slowly than usual, this means that anyone who sends in a mail-in ballot could still be counted even if the mail runs late, as long as the ballot is received by the Friday after elections.
Of course, this would also mean that the election results will take longer to fully tally.
Republicans are concerned this could damage the integrity of the voting process.
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Read the press release from Governor Tom Wolf’s administration:
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro issued the following statement following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in favor of voters.
“This is a victory that will help ensure that every eligible voter will more easily be able to cast their ballot and have it counted fairly.
“Today’s ruling confirms that counties will be able to provide convenient secure options such as additional county election offices and drop boxes to increase accessibility for those who are voting by mail. It also means that ballots postmarked by election day and received by the Friday after the election will be counted.
“Last fall, Pennsylvania voters were the beneficiaries of historic bipartisan election reform. Chief among those reforms was the ability for every voter to cast a ballot by mail, for any reason or no reason at all. This ruling affirms that historic legislation and allows counties to implement processes that support the voting reforms.
“Today is an important day for voters’ rights in Pennsylvania. Now, we and every county election worker will continue our efforts to administer an election that is secure, fair and accessible in every way.”
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Read the press release from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives GOP representatives:
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court sided with the Wolf administration and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in allowing for ballots to be counted that are received up to three days following the election day deadline, for satellite election office locations and the use of drop boxes.
In response, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) made the following statement:
“Two weeks ago, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed significant election legislation, based off of the governor’s report from the primary election, that among other things expands and clarifies voting options, enhances penalties for voter fraud, provides for more reasonable timelines to ensure ballots can be cast by election day, and allows for pre-canvassing.
“Today’s decision makes Pennsylvania’s elections less secure and opens the door to serious questions about the integrity of the process in one of the most significant national and state elections in recent memory. Even more concerning is that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has once again normalized the Wolf administration’s disrespect for the Constitution, the rule of law and the voice of the people.
“We are currently examining our legal and legislative options and remain committed to ensuring our elections are conducted in a safe and secure manner with results beyond reproach.”
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