Pennsylvania court rules on mail-in ballot date accuracy

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that mail-in ballots could be discarded if voters fail to write accurate dates on the envelopes used for their return. This decision, made on procedural grounds, overturned a previous Commonwealth Court ruling that had halted the enforcement of the date requirement. The case was brought by left-leaning groups but only involved two counties, Philadelphia and Allegheny, which led to the Supreme Court's determination that all 67 counties should have been included in the lawsuit. The ruling has significant implications for the upcoming presidential election, as it raises the possibility that thousands of valid ballots could be invalidated due to improper dating. Historically, older voters have been more affected by such issues, and with Democrats more likely to vote by mail, the ruling could disproportionately impact their votes. The Supreme Court's decision was made with a narrow 4-3 vote, with two Democratic justices siding with the Republican justices. The dissenting justices argued for a more comprehensive ruling on the constitutional implications of the case, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all ballots are counted fairly in the upcoming election. As the election approaches, the stakes are high, with over 10,000 ballots potentially at risk due to envelope date discrepancies. Pennsylvania's electoral votes are crucial in the presidential race, and the outcome could hinge on the enforcement of this ruling, affecting not only the presidential contest but also various state legislative elections.