The recent primary election in Pennsylvania saw some ballots being disqualified due to errors on the redesigned form on the outside of mail-in ballot return envelopes. Despite efforts to make the form clearer, some voters still failed to complete it accurately, resulting in their votes not being counted.
The redesigned form, which requires voters to fill in the month, day, and last two digits of the year, was introduced last year amid litigation over the validity of ballots with incorrect dates. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the date mandate, leading to the use of the new form in the primary.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt expressed confidence in the redesign, believing it would reduce unintentional errors. However, some election officials have reported that the changes have not improved the situation. Counties like Lycoming and Berks set aside numerous mail-in ballots with incorrect dates, leading to concerns about disenfranchisement.
Despite conflicting guidance from the state, some counties have chosen to count ballots with missing or incorrect dates, while others have not. The issue has highlighted the challenges of implementing new voting procedures and the importance of clear instructions for voters.
As election officials continue to review the ballots, the impact of the redesigned form on voter participation and ballot validity remains to be seen.