October 28, 2020

U.S. Supreme Court Again Denies Republican Effort to Block Pennsylvania’s Extended Ballot Receipt Deadline

Provision Will Make it Easier for Older Pennsylvanians to Cast Ballots That Will Be Counted During the Pandemic

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected Republican efforts to make it more difficult to vote during the coronavirus pandemic in Pennsylvania. The Court’s 5-3 decision means that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s September 17 ruling stands and ballots postmarked by Election Day and received up to three days later will be counted.

“This is an enormous victory for all Pennsylvania voters, especially seniors who should not have to put their health at risk during the pandemic in order to cast a ballot that will be counted,” said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Tens of thousands of older voters are voting by mail, but the Postal Service has told the Commonwealth it would not be able to deliver all mail ballots by Election Day. No voter should be disenfranchised for reasons outside of their control.”

The decision stemmed from a case brought by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans and four of its members on April 22, 2020.

The Alliance for Retired Americans, working with its state chapters, has filed lawsuits to protect vote by mail and absentee voters in Florida, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin, in addition to Pennsylvania this year. The lawsuit is supported by Priorities USA.

A copy of the denial is here.

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Contact: Lisa Cutler, lcutler@retiredamericans.org