In its decision, the PA Supreme Court ordered that all counties, “SHALL COMPLY with the prior rulings of this Court.‘
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Monday that all counties must comply with court precedent and state election code by only counting ballots that meet state requirements. The decision comes the week after officials in multiple counties blatantly defied the law by voting to count improperly dated ballots to swing the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race for Democrat incumbent Bob Casey.
While a recount is underway for the Pennsylvania Senate race between losing incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and the winner — by a thin margin — Republican Dave McCormick, some county boards of election said they intended to count mail-in ballots that were improperly cast with no date or an incorrect date written on the exterior envelope. Both are required by law, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered ahead of the election that ballots not meeting these requirements should not be counted.
Boards of elections in Bucks, Montgomery, Centre, and Philadelphia counties said in public meetings that they had decided to count such ballots in defiance of the law and the state supreme court. Democrat operatives attending these meetings also urged boards to count ballots that were deemed cast by unregistered voters.
