Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled Friday that counties cannot reject mail-in ballots for mismatched signatures.
“County boards of elections are prohibited from rejecting absentee or mail-in ballots based on signature comparison conducted by county election officials or employees, or as the result of third-party challenges based on signature analysis or comparisons,” the court ruled.
The ruling comes as a win for Democrat Kathy Boockvar, the state’s top election official. In her court filing, Boockvar said rejecting ballots for mismatched signatures would run the risk of disenfranchising voters “on an arbitrary and wholly subjective basis,” according to the Associated Press (AP).
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro called the decision a “win” for voters, according to
Voters who use a mail-in ballot have their identity verified in the initial application, often using a drivers’ license number. Pennsylvania’s voter identification system is safe and secure. We are protecting every eligible vote and ensuring each is counted. Make your plan to vote and we will keep doing our work to make sure your voice is heard,” Shapiro said.
The Trump campaign sued Pennsylvania in June over a 2019 law that expanded mail-in voting options to allow anyone to vote by mail without providing a reason, according to The Hill.
Author : Brianna Lyman
Source : Daily Caller : Pennsylvania Can’t Reject Ballots Over Mismatched Signature, State Supreme Court Rules
