Pennsylvania is preparing to deploy a new ballot design for the upcoming general election in an effort to reduce the number of rejected votes. The new design includes instructions and a yellow secrecy sleeve to help voters avoid common errors that have led to rejected ballots in the past. The state hopes to prevent mistakes such as missing signatures, incorrect dates, or ballots being submitted without the secrecy sleeve. In the 2020 general election, over 21,000 mail ballots were rejected for various reasons, potentially impacting election outcomes in a critical swing state like Pennsylvania.
Despite legal battles over ballot requirements, the state Supreme Court has ruled that mail ballots with improper dates cannot be counted. Counties are allowed to let voters correct mistakes on their ballots, but it is not mandatory. Some counties, like Dauphin County, have announced plans to allow voters to fix mistakes on their mail ballots.
With the new ballot design and additional measures such as hole punches through envelopes to help prevent “naked ballots,” Pennsylvania is taking steps to ensure a smoother voting process in the upcoming election. However, with the state’s restrictions on processing mail ballots before Election Day, results may not be finalized immediately, potentially leading to delays in determining election outcomes. Overall, the changes aim to improve the voting experience for Pennsylvania voters and reduce the number of rejected ballots.
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