How 'naked ballots' in Pennsylvania could cost Joe Biden the election

[RandySF]

The state Supreme Court in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state that’s seen as increasingly likely to determine who wins the White House, last week ordered officials to throw out “naked ballots” — mail ballots that arrive without inner “secrecy envelopes.” Pennsylvania uses a two-envelope mail ballot system: A completed ballot goes into a “secrecy envelope” that has no identifying information, and then into a larger mailing envelope that the voter signs.

It’s unclear how many naked ballots there will be, because this is the first year any Pennsylvania voter can vote by mail, and most counties counted them in the June primary without tracking how many there were.

But Philadelphia’s top elections official warned Monday that the court’s ruling “is going to cause electoral chaos,” lead to tens of thousands of votes being thrown out, and put the state at the center of “significant postelection legal controversy, the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000.”

The decision ordering them thrown out was part of a trio of rulings Thursday that, among other things, extended the deadline for voters to send mail ballots back, permitted the use of drop boxes for voters to return them, and removed the Green Party’s presidential ticket from the ballot.




https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/pennsylvania-naked-ballots-supreme-court-philadelphia-20200921.html

[radius777]

1. At least the other aspects of the rulings are good.

There should be no reason it's so hard to vote.

The only way to get around all of these GOP voter suppression tactics at this point is to make sure voters are informed in each state and locality on how exactly to vote so their vote is counted.

[brush]

11. Why do they think Dems are more likely not to use the secret envelope than repugs?

I mean it's a matter or reading instructions, right?

[JI7]

13. The issue is that Democrats are more likely to vote by mail

so more chance of this being an issue for democratic voters .

[PTWB]

15. The number of Democrats voting by mail is expected to far exceed Republicans.

Thus, even if Democrats fail to follow instructions at the same rate as Republicans, we will still have a disproportionate number of ballots spoiled by this decision.

[Doodley]

2. If tens of thousands are thrown out, mostly for Biden, God help us.

[octoberlib]

3. Democrats in the state need to educate people, then.

Blast it on the airwaves and on social media. Send everybody in the state a mailer about naked ballots.

[tman]

4. Yeah, this could actually cost Biden PA.

It's no joke.

Team Biden needs to throw everything at mitigating this coming disaster, fast.

[LisaL]

8. Public service announcements reminding people to use the "secrecy" envelopes.

NT

[gab13by13]

5. Pa. does a good job of informing voters

that the election office received the ballot and I'm pretty sure it informs the voter if the ballot was rejected.

This is the first I've heard about the naked ballot, I will be sure to let my Democratic friends know about the secrecy envelop.

We haven't received our ballots yet in Pa. because of the delay getting the Green Party kicked off the ballot.

I don't buy the doom and gloom, Republicans who don't use the secrecy envelop will also have their ballots tossed, correct?

When I get my ballot I will confirm this post about the secrecy envelop, Vote.org doesn't mention it if I remember correctly.

[tman]

7. The problem is that Democrats are expected to vote by mail at much higher rates

thus being far more impacted by rejected ballots.

Also, I could be wrong but I believe ballots in PA won't be verified until election day thus no chance for correction.

[Amishman]

6. Rather surprised by this from them

The PA state supreme court overall has been very friendly to the Democratic party and our interests.

[Klaralven]

9. So we're assuming that Biden voters are dumber than Trump voters?

And can't follow simple instructions?

[LisaL]

10. A lot more democrats plan to vote by mail.

NT

[Eid Ma Clack Shaw]

12. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing

the wrong person in the wrong place might well be inclined to view an exposed ballot and ensure that it doesn’t count via a different method. This affords the opportunity to get on top of it.

[BSdetect]

14. They ought to allow those as its the first time for this envelope system

On the other hand how stoopid can people be when voting for a Federal election?

[LisaL]

19. Supreme court of PA already made a decision that naked ballots won't be allowed.

NT

[BSdetect]

24. Yes, buy we can still suggest that point. And what about do-overs for faulty votes? lol

[consider_this]

16. Any way for voter to track the ballot?

And a record of if it gets tossed? if so, they should be allowed to submit a new vote that will count.

[DrToast]

17. There needs to be public outreach on this to educate people

I haven't heard anyone doing it, but it needs to start ASAP.

[Autumn]

18. The Dems need to do a media blitz informing voters to be sure and use the envelope so

their vote is not thrown out. Easy solution.

[lame54]

20. Mask up and show up to vote

[LisaL]

21. Really not a good idea for PA.

They don't have early in person voting.

[lame54]

22. That sounds like a worse idea...

No early voting and they've never had mail in voting before
How are so they so influential when it comes to ALL our fates?
This is the stupidest "democracy" ever

[LisaL]

23. Vast majority will be hopefully able to figure out to stick their ballot first into the

so-called secrecy envelope.

[RobinA]

25. The Instructions

on the ballot are pretty clear.