HARRISBURG, PA — A recent 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision upheld Pennsylvania’s mail voting rules, potentially leading to the rejection of ballots lacking dates or incorrectly dated.

The 2-1 ruling affirmed that requiring a handwritten date does not infringe upon the 1964 Civil Rights Act’s voter registration protections. This could set a national precedent if the Supreme Court upholds the decision, influencing how the Civil Rights Act is interpreted regarding ballot casting.

Conservative justices have expressed skepticism about the date requirement violating the act. The plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU of Pennsylvania, face a decision on whether to escalate the case to the Supreme Court, where preliminary opinions suggest an unfavorable outcome. 

The ACLU is currently deliberating on the ruling’s implications and its next steps.