Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules Undated Mail-In Ballots Won’t Count in 2024 Election

In a significant decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has overturned a Commonwealth Court ruling that allowed undated mail-in ballots to be counted in the upcoming 2024 election.

This decision, handed down on Friday, reaffirms the state’s requirement that mail-in ballots must include a handwritten date to be considered valid.

Commonwealth Court’s Decision Overturned

Earlier, the Commonwealth Court found that the handwritten date requirement was unconstitutional, creating a potential pathway for ballots lacking dates to be counted.

However, Pennsylvania Republicans quickly appealed to the state supreme court, arguing that the lower court’s ruling contradicted election integrity laws.

The Supreme Court’s decision now firmly establishes that undated mail-in ballots will be excluded from the 2024 election tally, siding with the GOP’s stance on maintaining ballot safeguards.

Justice Kevin Dougherty issued a scathing rebuke to the Commonwealth Court, criticizing its decision in a sharply worded opinion.

“This Court will neither impose nor countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election,” Dougherty wrote.

He continued, emphasizing the importance of consistency in election law, especially in the high-stakes period leading up to an election. “Today’s order, which I join, rights the ship. And it sends a loud message to all courts in this Commonwealth: we said what we meant and meant what we said.”

GOP Response to Supreme Court’s Decision

Republican officials in Pennsylvania celebrated the ruling, viewing it as a critical measure to uphold the integrity of the voting process.

In a statement, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Whatley expressed approval of the decision, stating, “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the law, and the dated ballot requirement will be in effect for this election. Democrats have repeatedly tried to eliminate this important ballot safeguard, and we have stopped them each time.”

He further emphasized the RNC’s commitment to maintaining these standards, adding, “We are committed to protecting critical ballot safeguards to ensure every ballot is cast and counted properly and will continue to fight across Pennsylvania to Protect the Vote.”

Push for Change from State Officials

Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, some state officials argued in favor of allowing undated ballots to be counted, stating that doing so would simplify the task for election workers.

The Pennsylvania Department of State had filed a brief supporting the removal of the dating requirement, describing it as a “significant burden on county boards.”

According to the brief, enforcing this rule forces election workers to manually verify each ballot envelope’s date—a time-consuming process. “Election workers must manually review every ballot envelope to determine whether it has a ‘correct’ date,” the brief stated.

Consistency in Rulings

Friday’s ruling marks the second time this month that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has blocked Democrat-led efforts to remove the date requirement for mail-in ballots.

The recent decision underscores the court’s stance on upholding established election laws in Pennsylvania, particularly those enacted to ensure clarity and accountability in the voting process.

With the 2024 election drawing near, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has made it clear that it will not entertain last-minute changes to election procedures.

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