Progress Made In Mail Ballot Rejection Rate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — New data from Pennsylvania’s statewide elections agency indicates about 2,600 mail-in ballots were turned down in the November presidential contest for having the wrong date and nearly 2,100 for having no date at all. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt says the rate of rejected ballots fell between the spring primary and the fall general election as his agency redesigned the ballot return envelopes and engaged in a voter education campaign. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said in mid-January it will rule on whether the envelope date requirement violates a state constitutional mandate that elections be free and equal.