Protecting Our Right to Vote in 2024
The Public Interest Law Center knows how much is at stake in every election. We’ve spent years fighting to ensure that every vote counts, and that every community is represented fairly. As the 2024 election approaches, democracy faces new challenges, and safeguarding the right to vote is more critical than ever. We currently have multiple key lawsuits underway, challenging barriers to mail-in and provisional voting at both county and state levels in Pennsylvania. These efforts are essential to protect the fundamental right to vote this November and beyond.
Fast-Tracked Cases for Election Integrity
With the general election on November 5th just weeks away, the Law Center remains focused on the cases we have brought since the primary in the spring which focus on challenging mail ballot dating errors, ensuring provisional ballots as a safety net and the timely notification of ballot issues. We anticipate that they will not only protect voting rights in Pennsylvania but also establish legal precedents with lasting impact. As the fight for fair elections continues, we are prepared for additional cases to emerge as new forms of disenfranchisement surface.
Why We Fight
At the Law Center, we understand that protecting the right to vote is about more than individual ballots—it’s about ensuring that communities, especially those historically marginalized, have a say in shaping their futures. We are not only advocating for fair voting practices, but for a more equitable society.
From challenging gerrymandering and advocating for fair school funding, to promoting access to healthcare and housing, our work addresses the fundamental barriers that prevent people from fully participating in their communities. The right to vote lies at the heart of this mission, and it is one we are proud to fight for.
Real Stories, Real Impact
Faith Genser – Butler County, PA
In the 2024 primary, Faith Genser forgot to include the inner secrecy envelope with her mail-in ballot. When she realized her mail-in ballot wouldn’t count, she went to her polling place on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot. However, the Butler County Board of Elections refused to count her provisional ballot, claiming that since she had returned a mail-in ballot (even though it was uncountable), her provisional vote couldn’t be counted either. In partnership with the ACLU of Pennsylvania and pro bono lawyers at Dechert, we sued. Although a judge in Butler County ruled against us, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court reversed the lower court’s decision, affirming that voters whose mail-in ballots have errors must be allowed to cast provisional ballots, and those votes must be counted. The case is now pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. See below for updates on this case.
Bruce Jacobs – Washington County, PA
Bruce Jacobs, a retiree, faced a similar issue. He mailed in his ballot without signing and dating the outer envelope. Unlike Faith, Bruce wasn’t informed of his mistake before Election Day, and the Washington County Board of Elections concealed the error, preventing 258 voters like Bruce from casting provisional ballots. None of their mail ballots were counted. Together with the ACLU and Dechert, we sued the county and won in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, which held that voters are entitled to know if their mail ballot will not be counted so that they can cast a provisional ballot on Election Day. See below for updates on this case.
Janet Novick – Bucks County, PA
Janet Novick, an 80-year-old retired teacher from Washington Crossing, mistakenly wrote her birthday on the outer envelope of her mail-in ballot. Health and mobility issues prevented her from traveling 45 minutes each way to correct the error, meaning her vote didn’t count. Alongside the ACLU and pro bono lawyers at Arnold & Porter, we filed a lawsuit. On August 30, the Commonwealth Court ruled that rejecting ballots due to these insignificant paperwork mistakes violated the state constitution’s guarantee of free and equal elections. While the Pennsylvania Supreme Court later overturned this ruling on procedural grounds, we are determined to keep fighting this issue. See below for updates on our ongoing challenges to this disenfranchisement.
08/26/2024
08/16/2024
07/01/2024
Voting Rights Groups Respond to Decision In Washington County Court Over Disenfranchised Mail Voters
Public Interest Law Center and ACLU of Pa. Respond to Ruling in Butler County ‘Naked Ballot’ Case
Washington County voters bring legal action against county for mail ballot disqualification
