Pennsylvania Court Allows Provisional Ballots for Mail Voters

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision that voters whose mail ballots are rejected for technical errors, such as missing secrecy envelopes, are entitled to cast provisional ballots on Election Day. This ruling provides a safeguard for voters, ensuring that if their mail ballot is disqualified, they can still participate in the election, as long as no other disqualifying issues exist. Justice Christine Donohue emphasized the importance of this decision in maintaining voter access, countering arguments from Republican litigants about election integrity. The ruling follows a case where two voters in Butler County were denied the counting of their provisional ballots after their mail-in votes were rejected. The decision is seen as a significant victory for voting rights advocates, including the ACLU of Pennsylvania and the Public Interest Law Center, who argued that technical mistakes should not disenfranchise eligible voters. With the upcoming election, this ruling sets a statewide precedent for how provisional ballots will be handled across Pennsylvania.