Coal Region News

Rep. Doyle Heffley has expressed concerns about a recent Commonwealth Court decision regarding mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania. The court ruled to count undated and incorrectly dated mail-in ballots in the case of Baxter v. Philadelphia Board of Elections, which Heffley believes could undermine election integrity.

"This ruling raises serious questions about our election process and the ability to ensure fair outcomes," said Heffley. "We must uphold the standards that protect our democracy. Allowing these undated ballots to be counted only fuels concerns that some individuals are trying to cheat the system."

The Commonwealth Court's decision contradicts a 2023 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in Ball v. Chapman, which invalidated absentee and mail-in ballots lacking dates on their envelopes. On October 5, the Supreme Court stated it would not significantly alter election laws during an ongoing election, citing "common sense."

Concerns have been raised about the impact of this new ruling on Pennsylvania's elections' integrity. Originally, changes to the Pennsylvania Election Code included strict provisions like dating requirements for mail-in voting to ensure integrity. A nonseverability clause indicated that if any part of the law was found invalid, the entire law would be voided.

Judge Patricia McCullough dissented from the majority opinion, criticizing them for ignoring this nonseverability provision and stating, "Wrong decisions issued at the wrong time are doubly threatening to the integrity of Pennsylvania’s elections and the public’s confidence in them." She also highlighted potential confusion for county boards of elections and voters.

"There is a need for clear and consistent election laws to maintain public confidence in the electoral process," said Heffley. "As this situation develops, I remain committed to advocating for integrity in Pennsylvania’s elections."