The Supreme Court said on Thursday that election officials in Pennsylvania may count mailed ballots accompanied by voters’ declarations that were signed but not dated. The court’s order came in a tight race for a seat on a state court, but it is likely to affect other contests in the state as well.
The court’s brief order gave no reasons, which is typical when the justices act on emergency applications.
The court’s three most conservative members — Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr., Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch — dissented, saying that the court should address the issue presented in the case in time for the November elections.
The case concerned a state law enacted in 2019 that permitted all registered voters to vote by mail. The law required voters using mailed ballots to “fill out, date and sign” a declaration printed on the outside of the return envelope that said they were qualified to vote.
The Supreme Court’s order let stand a ruling from a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in Philadelphia, which said the part of the state law requiring the declarations to be dated ran afoul of a provision of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. The provision prohibits government officials from denying the right to vote “because of an error or omission” if it “is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under state law to vote.”
The case arose from an election in November 2021 for a seat on the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas in which David Ritter, a Republican, leads Zachary Cohen, a Democrat, by 71 votes. The local elections board determined that it would also count 257 undated ballots, and challenges in state and federal court followed.
>Pennsylvania, the 3rd Circuit, and the Supreme Court (Amy, Kavanaugh, and Roberts) just fucked over the integrity of our elections nationwide by allowing undated voting ballots to be counted.
PONDER AWOO NEVER CONCEDE AUDIT THE FRAUD DROP THE HAMMER PUNCH THE SCORECARD HANG THE RIGGERS JINX THE JABBERS FINISH THE WALL DRAIN THE SWAMP SINK THE CHINK IT'S OKAY TO BE WHITE LET'S GO BRANDON BE BEST JUST LOVE AND FORGIVE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY (EVEN IF THEY'RE WRONG) STRONGER TIMES NOW THIS IS ULTRA MAGA COUNTRY TRUMP FOREVER!
Luke is a demon, he is legion Cast him out of you MAGA
Grayson Cooper
So what's going to be the outcome of these hearings? Is it just distraction or to try and take down trump? But would that open the gates for presidents to get arrested?
>court’s order came in a tight race for a seat on a state court, but it is likely to affect other contests in the state as well. Barret and Kavanaugh have been such disappointments. And Roberts might as well just cut off his dick and dye his hair pink at this point.
Why can't all state GOPs be as based as the AZ State GOP? They just held a unofficial primary debate for AZ SOS, a very important position for addressing fraud in 2024
Your not going to get this court to interfere in state elections process. If you don't like the law, your going to have to get the state legislatures to change it.
Do you really want the court being able to change or nullify state election laws anyway? Isn't that better left to the legislature? Its better the court stays away even if it means its a longer battle state by state.
Anthony Morris
the man from snowy river has a similar vibe, very western except…kinda not
