Nov. 2 (UPI) — Thousands of Pennsylvania voters who submitted potentially defective mail-in ballots can cast provisional ballots on election day.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined a challenge filed by the Pennsylvania GOP after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last week ruled affected voters can cast provisional ballots in person during the general election.
Justice Samuel Alito said the matter is important but the Supreme Court would not get involved with the general election just days away on Tuesday.
Alito in a two-page opinion said the case arose from two disputed ballots submitted during the Democratic Party primary in Pennsylvania’s Butler County.
Those ballots lacked secrecy envelopes, which are required by Pennsylvania law, so the Butler County board of electors is allowing those two voters to cast provisional ballots.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that if a voter submitted an invalid mail-in ballot, that voter can submit a provisional ballot by voting in person and have that voted count.