Do Pennsylvania's verification rules for mail ballots differ from those of other states?
Pennsylvania's highest court, in an Oct. 23 ruling, affirmed that local election officials may not reject mailed-in ballots "based solely on signature analysis." The state will rely instead on other security requirements. Pennsylvanians voting by mail have to sign the outer envelope, insert the ballot in an inner "security sleeve" and include the number from a state identity document, the last four digits of their social security number or a photocopy of another identity document.
In contrast to some states, Pennsylvania's election code lacks clear guidelines on evaluating signatures, as the court noted. Leaving comparisons to local discretion risks disenfranchising voters, the court determined. Some other states go to greater lengths to educate workers to make any rejections on a consistent, fair basis, offering detailed guidelines.
