WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania election officials will be allowed to count ballots received up to three days after Election Day after a Monday night Supreme Court ruling.
This refuses a Republican request that would stop the procedure that was allowed by Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court.
The court tied, but five votes were needed to issue a stay.
The state’s supreme court said that all ballots postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, must be counted; allowing time for such ballots to arrive.
Opinions on the Supreme Court decision were split, according to the Washington Post.
“In a year where there is a very real possibility that the final presidential election result hinges on Pennsylvania, the new rules imposed by the decision of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania could destroy the American public’s confidence in the electoral system as a whole,” said the stay request filed by the Republican leaders.
However, Pennsylvania’s Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro supported the decision.
“All aspects of the electoral process in Pennsylvania be open and unrestricted so as not to disenfranchise Pennsylvania voters,” said Shapiro.
“The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision protected that right and brought much needed clarity to the exigent circumstances surrounding a global pandemic.”
Because the case was an emergency request, no explanation was given by either side of the Court.
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