Results for: Election Administration

A redesigned form for the outside of mail-in ballot return envelopes in Pennsylvania has been implemented but has not eliminated voter errors in completing it accurately. As a result, some votes cast in the primary election will not be counted due to these inaccuracies. The new design features separate spaces for the month, day, and the last two digits of the year, which voters must fill in. However, voters continue to make mistakes, particularly with the year. Officials are monitoring the county-by-county vote count to assess the impact of the new design. While the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania reports that over 10,000 ballots were disqualified in 2022 solely due to the missing date issue, the state’s Secretary of State expresses optimism that the revised form will lead to fewer such errors.

An attempt by Pennsylvania officials to prevent voter disqualification on mail-in ballots has instead led to the rejection of some ballots. The issue stems from voters failing to fill in the final two digits of the year on the return envelope, despite the state’s new advice to count such ballots. Counties across the state have varying interpretations of the situation, with some accepting the ballots while others continue to reject them. The number of affected voters remains unclear, but the problem has been observed in multiple areas.

In an effort to curb perceived Democratic advantages, over 27 states have banned or restricted the use of private donations to fund local election offices, equipment, and poll workers. Critics argue that this measure undermines the independence and security of elections, while advocates maintain that it prevents undue influence from partisan groups.