{"id":2341234,"date":"2024-09-14T17:37:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-14T21:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/battleground-state-supreme-court-shakes-2024-election-tosses-mail-in-ballot-decision\/"},"modified":"2024-09-14T17:44:45","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T21:44:45","slug":"battleground-state-supreme-court-shakes-2024-election-tosses-mail-in-ballot-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/battleground-state-supreme-court-shakes-2024-election-tosses-mail-in-ballot-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Battleground State Supreme Court Shakes 2024 Election, Tosses Mail-In Ballot Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbattleground-state-supreme-court-shakes-2024-election-tosses-mail-in-ballot-decision%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2341234&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a recent \u2064ruling, \u2062the Pennsylvania Supreme\u2062 Court vacated a lower court\u2019s \u200cdecision\u2063 deeming the state \u2064law requiring \u2063mail-in ballots\u2062 to be correctly dated \u2063unconstitutional. This outcome is seen as a significant victory for Republicans, who \u200cassert it strengthens\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ga-poll-watcher-it-expert-non-trump-supporter-affidavit-sudden-surge-of-20000-mail-in-votes-for-biden-in-early-hours-on-nov\/\" title=\"GA Poll Watcher, IT Expert, Non-Trump Supporter Affidavit: Sudden Surge of 20,000 Mail-In-Votes For Biden In Early Hours On Nov\">election integrity<\/a> by decreasing the potential for fraud. The lawsuit that challenged the\u200d law, initiated by liberal groups,\u2062 claimed that election officials violated voters&#8217; constitutional\u2063 rights by not counting ballots that\u200d were undated or incorrectly dated\u200c during the 2022 midterm elections. However, the Supreme\u200c Court ruled that the \u2063lower court did not have the authority to hear the case since it failed \u2064to name the \u200cboards of \u2063elections \u2063from\u200b all 67 counties\u2062 as\u200d defendants. This decision underscores the importance of jurisdiction and party representation in legal disputes surrounding election laws. Notably, the controversy reflects broader political\u2064 tensions in Pennsylvania, particularly\u2064 involving the predominantly Democratic cities \u200cof\u200d Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The ruling illustrates\u2062 ongoing debates about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/one-of-the-biggest-organizations-helping-democrats-win-elections\/\" title=\"Major Democratic Election Support Organization\">election\u200c laws<\/a> and their perceived implications for both election integrity and \u2062voter access.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Liberal attempts to &ldquo;game the system&rdquo; in a swing state just took a big loss.<\/p>\n<p>In a Friday ruling, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-rejects-pennsylvania-gop-election-appeal\/\" title=\"Supreme Court Rejects Pennsylvania GOP Election Appeal\">lower court decision<\/a> that found a state law requiring mail-in ballots to be dated correctly was unconstitutional.<\/p>\n<p>And Republicans nationally are hailing the decision.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">HUGE election integrity win in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>Following legal action from the RNC and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PAGOP?\">@PAGOP<\/a>, the PA Supreme Court REJECTED a Democrat attempt to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/disenfranchising-these-voters-mccormick-sues-pennsylvania-election-boards-to-count-undated-ballots\/\" title=\"\u2018Disenfranchising These Voters\u2019: McCormick Sues Pennsylvania Election Boards To Count Undated Ballots\">count undated ballots<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This makes mail voting in the Keystone State less susceptible to fraud.<\/p>\n<p>We will keep fighting and winning!<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Michael Whatley (@ChairmanWhatley) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChairmanWhatley\/status\/1834709421588377836?\">September 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;HUGE election integrity win in Pennsylvania,&rdquo; Republican National Committee Chairman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/know-michael-whatley-reported-front-runner-rnc-chair\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michael Whatley<\/a> wrote in a social media post. &ldquo;We will keep fighting and winning!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacourts.us\/assets\/opinions\/Supreme\/out\/J-79-2024pco%20-%20106072150281081766.pdf?cb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the ruling<\/a>, according to the website of the <a href=\"https:\/\/triblive.com\/news\/pennsylvania\/pa-supreme-court-rules-on-mail-in-ballot-date-errors-but-its-likely-not-the-final-word\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pittsburgh Tribune-Review<\/a>, the state high court found that a lawsuit challenging the requirement did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Court that ruled against the law.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit that challenged the law named only the boards of elections in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties &mdash; homes of the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh &mdash; as well as the Pennsylvania Department of State as defendants.<\/p>\n<p>In order for the Commonwealth Court to review it, it would have had to name the elections boards in all 67 counties, the Supreme Court ruled.<\/p>\n<p>At issue is a <a href=\"https:\/\/casetext.com\/statute\/pennsylvania-statutes\/statutes-unconsolidated\/title-25-ps-elections-electoral-districts\/chapter-14-election-code\/article-xiii-voting-by-qualified-absentee-electors\/section-31466-voting-by-absentee-electors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pennsylvania state law<\/a> that clearly requires mail-in ballots to be signed and dated by voters.<\/p>\n<p>In the lawsuit, according to the Tribune-Review, the liberal groups claimed that elections officials in the 2022 midterms violated the constitutional rights of Pennsylvanians by failing to count ballots in envelopes that were either undated or dated incorrectly.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-graphic-designer-defends-right-of-all-americans-to-be-protected-from-compelled-speech\/\" title=\"Christian Graphic Designer Defends Right Of All Americans To Be Protected From Compelled Speech\">lower court agreed<\/a>. But in even hearing the case, it overstepped its bounds, the state Supreme Court ruled, in a 4-3 vote.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Commonwealth Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to review the matter given the failure to name the county boards of elections of all 67 counties,&rdquo; the ruling states.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit&rsquo;s inclusion of Secretary of the Commonwealth <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/en\/agencies\/dos\/newsroom\/al-schmidt-takes-office-as-secretary-of-the-commonwealth-.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Al Schmidt<\/a> &mdash; who heads the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/en\/agencies\/dos\/programs\/voting-and-elections.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of State<\/a> &mdash; did not cover the problem, the court ruled.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling might have looked narrow on its face, but the dispute is about far more than a technicality.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/lifelong-democrat-former-deputy-mayor-philadelphia-endorses-oz-fetterman-cites-safety-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Philadelphia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/race-agitators-terrorize-diners-pittsburgh-screaming-f-white-people-smashing-glasses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pittsburgh<\/a> are overwhelmingly Democratic strongholds. At least one Republican lawmaker implicitly questioned how honest those elections officials would be defending a state law denounced by Democrats &mdash; including the state&rsquo;s Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pennlive.com\/news\/2024\/09\/pa-high-court-in-ballot-ruling-did-not-side-with-voters-gov-shapiro.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Josh Shapiro<\/a>, a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/kamalas-vp-leaked-harris-pick-goes-public-social-media-accident-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> one-time contender<\/a> for the Democrats&rsquo; vice presidential slot on the 2024 ballot.<\/p>\n<p>State Sen. Kim Ward, a Republican from a Westmoreland County district 225 miles west of Philadelphia, accused the liberal groups of &ldquo;gaming the system.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Petitioners&rsquo; attempt to game the system by naming only counties and state officials sympathetic to their legal position was soundly rejected,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;While this may not be the end of this issue, this decision ensures that all interested and necessary parties will be heard if and when this issue again comes before the court.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Matthew Haverstick, a lawyer who represents the Republican Party in the Keystone State, called the liberal effort &ldquo;collusive.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Hopefully outside groups will get the message and stop doing these collusive, set-up lawsuits, and instead name parties who actually have an interest in a case,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And perhaps next time the secretary will stand up for the constitutionality of state law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liberal efforts to manipulate the system in a key swing state have suffered a significant setback. On Friday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that deemed unconstitutional a state law mandating that mail-in ballots be properly dated. This decision has been celebrated by Republicans across the country. <\/p>\n<p>Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley expressed his approval on social media, stating it was a &#8220;HUGE election integrity win in Pennsylvania&#8221; and affirming their commitment to continue fighting for these principles.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the high court determined that the lawsuit challenging this requirement did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Court, which had previously ruled against it. The lawsuit only named election boards from Philadelphia and Allegheny counties, along with the Pennsylvania Department of State as defendants; however, for it to be reviewed by Commonwealth Court, all 67 county election boards needed to be included.<\/p>\n<p>The law in question clearly stipulates that mail-in ballots must be signed and dated by voters. Liberal groups argued during the 2022 midterms that elections officials violated Pennsylvanians&#8217; constitutional rights by not counting ballots with missing or incorrect dates. While a lower court agreed with them, the state Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that hearing such cases exceeded its authority due to improper naming of defendants.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling may seem narrow but carries broader implications since Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are heavily Democratic areas. Some Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about how fairly elections officials would enforce laws criticized by Democrats like Governor Josh Shapiro.<\/p>\n<p>State Senator Kim Ward accused liberal groups of trying to exploit legal loopholes: \u201cTheir attempt to manipulate proceedings was decisively rejected,\u201d she stated. She emphasized that this decision ensures all relevant parties will have an opportunity to present their case if similar issues arise again.<\/p>\n<p>Matthew Haverstick, representing Republicans in Pennsylvania, described these liberal actions as &#8220;collusive,&#8221; hoping outside groups would learn from this outcome and properly include interested parties in future lawsuits while urging state officials like Secretary Al Schmidt to uphold constitutional laws more vigorously<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2341235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Picture-2024-09-14T143824.616.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32431,33002,40917,39540,32275],"class_list":["post-2341234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-2024-election","tag-battleground-states","tag-legal-decisions","tag-mail-in-ballots","tag-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Picture-2024-09-14T143824.616.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2341234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2341234"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2341234\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2341235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2341234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2341234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2341234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}