Pennsylvania Supreme Court Upholds Provisional Ballots

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled in a 4-3 decision that voters whose mail-in ballots were improperly cast without the required secrecy envelope can still vote provisionally. This decision stems from a case in Butler County where two voters had their mail-in ballots rejected, leading them to cast provisional ballots on Election Day. The court emphasized that disenfranchising voters for procedural errors contradicts the principles of a fair election. The ruling highlights a division in opinion, with dissenting justices expressing concerns over the ruling's implications for election integrity. Additionally, the Berks County Board of Elections has accepted and counted mail-in ballots from a nursing home, which were initially questioned but deemed cast without malicious intent. These developments illustrate ongoing tensions and legal battles surrounding mail-in voting procedures in Pennsylvania.