(Harrisburg, Penn.) – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled today that state law allows
county bureaus of elections to set up drop boxes and satellite offices to
accept mail and absentee ballots, a clear victory for voters.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party who was represented by the Lawyers’
Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, American Civil Liberties Union
of Pennsylvania, the ACLU Voting Rights Project, Public Interest Law
Center, and the law firm WilmerHale.
The court also found that the Pennsylvania law requiring all mail and absentee ballots to be
delivered to the county elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day is
unconstitutional under the state constitution during the coronavirus pandemic
The following is reaction to today’s ruling:
Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s historic decision preserves access to mail voting at a time when it’s never been more critical. The court’s well-reasoned decision protects the right to cast a vote by mail that will count, and it protects voters whose health are at risk due to COVID-19.”
Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania: “Today’s ruling is a win for voters. This case has always been about promoting safe access to the ballot for all eligible voters in the commonwealth, and the court understood the importance of lowering barriers to voting.”
Sarah Brannon, managing attorney with the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project: “This ruling is a huge victory for voting rights and for the millions of Pennsylvanians who wish to vote safely in the November election.”
Tim Stevens, chairman and CEO with The Black Empowerment Project: “The Black Political Empowerment Project was proud to be a partner with advocacy organizations that believe in protecting the right to vote. The fact that the state Supreme Court has ruled in our favor to allow counties to have drop boxes is important for extending the opportunity of people to utilize their right to vote. With so many stories of delays in the U.S. mail, we think it is also important that, under these unusual circumstances, people will have their ballots counted, as long as they are in the mail by Election Day. BPEP’s mission is to encourage African-Americans to vote in each and every election, and we feel that the court’s decision supports that objective.”
Suzanne Almeida, interim executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania: “Today’s state Supreme Court ruling is good news for Pennsylvania voters, whether they choose to vote in person or by mail. Ballot drop boxes and extended return dates are both important parts of safely administering this election, because they give voters more opportunities to return their mail ballots. Our commonwealth is stronger when every eligible voter can participate in an accessible, safe, and secure election. Today’s Supreme Court decision will help ensure Pennsylvania voters can vote the way they want to, and have their voices heard, in November.”
Mimi McKenzie, legal director at the Public Interest Law Center: “This is a win for democracy. Today, the court recognized that Pennsylvania voters, whether voting by mail or voting in person, deserve access to the ballot box and confidence that their vote will be counted.”
Maegan Llerena, executive director of Make The Road Pennsylvania: “This attack on voters was caused by Pennsylvania being a tipping-point battleground state and was an attempt to suppress our votes and all of the hard work we are doing. We are extremely grateful that the PA Supreme Court has decided to rule on the changes for the 2020 elections. This is the election of our lifetimes, and we are less than 47 days away from the election. These changes will allow tens of thousands more people to vote by mail and overall increase everyone’s access to voting.”
Terrie Griffin, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania: “Today’s decision is a huge victory for Pennsylvania voters, especially those who are at high risk of severe illness from the COVID-19 virus. During a deadly global pandemic, voters must be given more safe options for casting their votes, not new barriers that they must navigate to make their voices heard. Today’s ruling protects voters’ health and their right to safe, reliable access to the vote. The League will continue to inform voters of their options for casting their ballots this year, which now includes secure drop boxes.”
More information about the case, including the advocates’ brief and the expert reports that accompanied it, is available at aclupa.org/Democrats.
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About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes. For more information, please visit: https://lawyerscommittee.org.
