Kayla Kouahou ’28
Revamping mail-in voting in Pennsylvania has become a critical issue in maintaining the legitimacy of the upcoming elections. In the 2020 election, thousands of mail-in ballots were rejected due to voter mistakes, many of which were minor errors like absent signatures or undated envelopes. This issue sparked frustration among voters and led to several legal battles, including cases before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, where the validity of “naked” or undated ballots was contested. In response, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration has taken steps to redesign the mail-in ballot process, making it more user-friendly and accessible for voters.
Upper School AP Government Teacher David Mercante weighed in on the importance of these changes, saying that with elections being so close, “the people at the Department of State of Pennsylvania want to make sure as few ballots as possible are rejected due to simple errors.” According to Mercante, the redesign aims to make the process more intuitive, helping voters avoid mistakes that could disqualify their votes. Every vote really does count, especially in elections as tight and important as the upcoming presidential election. National polls published October 25th by the New York Times showed a literal tie at 48-48 percent.
Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Commonwealth, Al Schmidt, emphasized that the updated ballot materials aim to reduce errors, allowing more votes to be counted. After the 2023 primary election, when about 17,000 mail-in ballots were rejected—a 2.8% rejection rate—the need for change became clear. Schmidt, quoted on The Pennsylvania Pressroom website, said “We believe the ability to apply for a mail ballot online earlier, coupled with a redesign of the online mail ballot application, are further steps in simplifying the vote-by-mail process for registered voters.”
Photo courtesy of WITF
The redesigned mail-in ballots will introduce several key improvements. Governor Shapiro has emphasized that the administration’s goal is to make voting accessible and efficient, saying quoted in The Hill, “I’ll always protect your right to a free, secure, and fair election.”.” New envelopes will feature distinct colors, helping voters easily identify the correct envelope for each step of the process. Clear, user-friendly instructions will guide voters through filling out, packing, and returning their ballots, making the experience less overwhelming. Greville Haslam Head of School T.J. Locke expresses his feelings on the change: “I just hope that it’s straightforward. If people are voting by mail-in ballots, I hope that it’s done well so their voice gets heard.”
The improvements also focus on streamlining the return process. Postal workers will be able to recognize the new ballots more easily, ensuring timely delivery, a critical change since ballots must arrive before polls close on Election Day to be counted. In an interview on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s official website Schmidt explained that they launched voter education programs “to make sure that Pennsylvanians know about key dates and deadlines for the Nov. 5 election,”Schmidt elaborated on their goal saying, “We want to make sure voters understand how to use these new materials effectively so they can participate confidently in the electoral process.” Proper usage is key to truly mitigating past issues and ensuring the success of the new structure.
As the election draws near, these efforts reflect Pennsylvania’s dedication to protecting the voting process. Schmidt’s point that voters deserve clear, nonpartisan information on how to cast their ballots truly aligns with our country’s goal of ensuring a democratic and accurate election process. By focusing on voter education and ballot clarity, the Shapiro administration is not just redesigning materials but ensuring that Pennsylvania’s. democracy functions at its best. Mercante weighed in on the importance of these changes, saying, “Every vote really matters…there’s a certain process you need to follow to have your ballot be counted.” The hope is that these changes will empower every Pennsylvanian to make their voice heard and ensure that every vote is counted.