Pennsylvania Supreme Court upholds exclusion of certain mail-in ballots, in victory for RNC

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court made a significant ruling on Monday regarding the 2024 election, stating that mail-in ballots with incorrect or missing dates cannot be counted. This decision was a win for Republican Party officials who were defending their narrow Senate victory amidst a recount challenge in the Keystone State.

In a 4-3 decision, the state Supreme Court reiterated its previous ruling that counties in Pennsylvania are not allowed to count mail-in ballots that have incorrect or missing dates. Specifically, the court called out Boards of Elections in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County, instructing them to comply with the court’s prior rulings on this matter.

This ruling was a victory for Republican Party officials who had filed a dozen lawsuits in the state as part of their efforts to defend Republican candidate David McCormick’s win over three-term Democrat Sen. Bob Casey. McCormick had secured a victory over Casey by a margin of around 17,000 votes, falling within the 0.5% margin that triggers an automatic recount under Pennsylvania law.

Leading up to the Senate recount in Pennsylvania, Republicans raised concerns about election county commissioners in Philadelphia, Bucks County, and Montgomery County allowing incorrectly dated or undated mail-in and absentee ballots to be counted. Party officials argued that this action went against the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision.

Republican Party Chair Michael Whatley expressed determination to maintain a strong legal stance to ensure the election’s certification in Pennsylvania. He condemned what he described as “corrupt and despicable conduct” by Democrats in the state.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling on November 1, upholding the requirement for handwritten dates on mail-in ballots, was seen as a victory for the GOP. The recent decision reinforces that counties attempting to count ballots without proper dates are in violation of the law.

As this story continues to develop, stay tuned for further updates. Breanne Deppisch, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the 2024 election and national news, provided this information.