Overview

• The three-judge panel ordered Pennsylvania to stop discarding mail ballots solely for missing or incorrect handwritten dates and affirmed a March district court ruling.
• Judge D. Brooks Smith wrote that the practice fails constitutional balancing and has led to the disqualification of thousands of otherwise proper ballots.
• The challenge was brought by Democratic-aligned groups including the American Federation of Teachers and national party campaign arms, backed by voting-rights organizations.
• The Republican National Committee and state GOP opposed the suit, and Attorney General Dave Sunday is reviewing the ruling as Republicans consider en banc rehearing or Supreme Court review.
• The ruling removes a commonly used basis for rejection that has caused confusion for election administrators across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.