The court, which ruled last week that mail-in ballots can be counted if they arrive at local elections offices by Nov. 6, refused a request from Republicans to put its order on hold.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court dealt a blow Thursday to Republicans in the legal fight over the deadline for mailed ballots in the presidential battleground state.
The court, which has a 5-2 Democratic majority, rejected without comment a request by Republicans to put on hold its decision to extend the deadline for receiving and counting mail-in ballots.
Republicans are now likely to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to block the ruling.
The divided court last week granted the Democratic Party’s request to order an extension of Pennsylvania’s Election Day deadline to count mailed ballots.
The court said ballots must be postmarked by the time polls close and be received by county election boards at 5 p.m. on Nov. 6, three days after the Nov. 3 election.
It cited warnings of the prospect of Postal Service delays in invalidating huge numbers of ballots and demand for mailed ballots during the coronavirus pandemic to invoke the power, used previously by the state’s courts, to extend election deadlines during a disaster emergency.
Ballots can be counted if they lack a postmark, a legible postmark or some other proof of mailing unless a “preponderance of the evidence” shows it was mailed after Election Day, the court said.
Republicans opposed changing the deadline, as well as counting ballots without legible postmarks to prove they were mailed before polls closed. They say the ruling violates federal law that sets Election Day as the first Tuesday in November and exceeded the court’s constitutional authority.
Politics
Breaking down IVF: What it is and why it’s important in the fight for reproductive rights
In vitro fertilization, or IVF, has been at the forefront of a major reproductive rights battle, but what exactly is it? For many Americans, in...
Fetterman introduces bill to protect affordable internet access for 23 million households
The Affordable Connectivity Program expired on Tuesday due to Republican opposition, putting affordable high-speed internet access at risk for 23...
Democrats advance election bill in Pennsylvania long sought by counties to process ballots faster
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill long sought by counties seeking help to manage huge...
Local News
Look out, Sheetz, Wawa is officially moving into your territory with Central Pa. expansion
The Delaware County-based convenience store chain broke ground on its first Dauphin County location Wednesday in Middletown, with five more stores...
What do you know about Wawa? 7 fun facts about Pennsylvania’s beloved convenience store
Wawa has 60 years of Pennsylvania roots, and today the commonwealth’s largest private company has more than 1,000 locations along the east coast....