The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered election officials in Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties to stop counting mail-in ballots with the wrong or missing dates on their outer envelopes. This decision came as a victory in a Senate race where Republican Dave McCormick holds a narrow lead over Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. McCormick’s campaign welcomed the ruling, while Casey’s team accused Republicans of trying to disenfranchise Pennsylvania voters. The race remains too close to call, with McCormick leading by 17,408 votes and a recount triggered due to the narrow margin. The recount is set to be completed by November 26. The court order was a result of a petition filed by the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, challenging the decision of Democratic-led election boards in the three counties to count ballots with incorrect dates. The counties had argued that an incorrect date did not necessarily mean the ballot was invalid or that the voter was ineligible. This ruling highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding the counting of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania and adds to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the Senate race in the state.
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Pennsylvania Supreme Court halts counting of ballots containing date errors on orders of election officials
