The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has set March 15 as the day for abolishing the state’s 2019 mail-in voting law.
Three weeks ago, the Commonwealth Court ruled in a party line decision that the law violated the state constitution.
For those who aren’t aware, the Constitution of Pennsylvania says residents must vote in person unless they meet specific requirements.
Although the law to expand mail-in voting passed with bipartisan support, some Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg argued at the time that it could undermine election integrity.
Commonwealth Court Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt sided again with GOP officeholders Thursday when she declared that the court’s earlier ruling can take affect next month.
Leavitt also said that Republicans are likely to prevail in abolishing the law.
Allentown’s WFMZ-TV has more:
Terry Madonna, a political affairs professor at Millersville University, isn’t so sure about that.
“The Supreme Court is heavily democratic, and the Commonwealth Court that struck it down is heavily Republican, and make no mistake, I would be surprised if the Supreme Court allows the law to be struck down,” Madonna said.
Madonna also says the state’s highest court can overrule the March 15 date.
“The Supreme Court can step in at any time and put that date, March 15, on hold,” Madonna said.
Only time will tell who’s victorious.
