Federal Appeals Court Orders Pennsylvania to Count Undated Mail Ballots

A federal appeals court ruled unanimously that Pennsylvania cannot discard mail-in ballots solely because the voter failed to write an accurate date on the return envelope, deeming the practice unconstitutional. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an earlier decision by a federal judge who found that discarding such ballots poses an unjustified burden on voters' constitutional right to vote. The ruling came after plaintiff Bette Eakin, who is blind and unable to vote in person, sued election officials for rejecting her ballot due to a missing date, with courts finding no evidence that the date requirement furthers state interests such as preventing fraud or promoting election efficiency. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro supported the lawsuit, calling the discarding of ballots over date errors disenfranchisement. Republicans, defending the date requirement, are considering their next steps, including a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. This decision marks a continuation of legal battles over mail-in ballot rules in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state where Democrats typically cast more mail-in ballots than Republicans.