Washington, D.C. – Today, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed with RITE-sponsored litigants that Pennsylvania law prohibits election officials from counting undated and incorrectly dated mail-in and absentee ballots. This decision, which applies to the 2022 election, overrules contrary, illegal guidance from the Secretary of the Commonwealth that flew in the face of a decision issued just last month by the United States Supreme Court. The requirement that mail-in and absentee ballots be properly dated is clearly set forth in the election code enacted by the Pennsylvania legislature. And it is a commonsense election integrity measure that protects the ballot box from election fraud, manipulation, and abuse. Today’s decision will help restore Pennsylvania voters’ confidence and faith in their electoral process.
Derek Lyons, RITE’s President and CEO, issued the following statement:
“The Commonwealth’s law clearly states that undated and incorrectly dated mail-in and absentee ballots may not be counted. Election laws should be implemented as the legislature wrote them, not to create partisan advantage. Citizens of every political party should have trust in our elections. Voters lose faith in election results when officials refuse to follow the law. Today’s decision is a massive win for Pennsylvania voters because it will help restore trust in their elections.”
Co-founded in 2022 by National Finance Chairman Steve Wynn, Senior Advisor Karl Rove, and Chairman of the Board Bobby R. Burchfield, RITE is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the rule of law in elections. Working with some of the finest lawyers in the country, RITE supports faithful enforcement of valid, properly enacted and adopted laws and regulations that promote secure, efficient, and accurate elections throughout the United States.
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