With over 1.9 million mail ballots applied for this election cycle, the court's decision is expected to impact a significant number of voters.

Secrecy envelopes are required in Pennsylvania to protect voter privacy, and must be signed and dated correctly before submission.

A separate case is pending that seeks to mandate statewide notification for mail voters regarding ballot errors, which could further impact the voting process.

In a significant ruling, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court decided that voters whose mail ballots are rejected can cast provisional ballots, ensuring broader access to the electoral process.

This decision stemmed from a case involving two voters in Butler County, whose mail-in ballots were voided due to missing mandatory secrecy envelopes.

The ruling, which passed narrowly with a 4-3 vote, represents a setback for the Republican National Committee and the state GOP, who opposed counting provisional ballots.

Democratic leaders hailed the ruling as a victory for voter rights, emphasizing its importance in facilitating access to voting.

Most counties in Pennsylvania inform voters in advance if their mail-in ballots will be rejected, allowing them the opportunity to cast provisional ballots.

This ruling is particularly significant in the context of Pennsylvania's role as a key swing state in the upcoming presidential election.

The ACLU anticipates that tens of thousands of mail-in ballots may be disqualified in the upcoming election, underscoring the importance of the court's ruling.

The court's majority highlighted that provisional voting enhances voter access while preventing double voting, aligning with the principles of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Justice Christine Donohue, writing for the majority, stressed that the Election Code should facilitate voting rights rather than create barriers.