Judge Rules Undated Pennsylvania Mail-In Ballots Should Be Counted

The decision, expected to be appealed, could significantly impact the 2024 presidential election in the key battleground state.

U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter ruled that undated mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania should be counted if they arrive on time, arguing that the requirement for a handwritten date is not material in determining if a ballot was received in time or if a voter is qualified.
The ruling is expected to be appealed to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and could potentially reach the Supreme Court.
The decision could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election, particularly in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.
The suit was filed by several groups including the NAACP, League of Women Voters, and the Black Political Empowerment Project, arguing that not counting undated ballots violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
More than 7,600 mail-in ballots in 12 counties were not counted in the November 2022 election because the outer envelope lacked a date or had an incorrect date.