HARRISBURG, PA – In response to a lawsuit brought by Campaign Legal Center (CLC) challenging the state’s election procedures, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar issued guidance to establish uniform processes across counties for counting mail-in ballots. This resolves the case which CLC brought on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, and two individual clients, with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP serving as co-counsel. The plaintiffs have filed a notice of dismissal this afternoon, ending the litigation.

For the 2020 General Election this fall and in future elections, County Boards of Elections can no longer reject a ballot solely on the basis of an election official’s belief that a signature does not match the signature in the voter’s file.

“As a result of this case, Pennsylvania voters can cast their vote without fear that their ballot could be rejected solely because an election official – who isn’t trained in handwriting analysis – thinks their signatures don’t match. Voting should not be a penmanship test,“ said Mark Gaber, director, trial litigation at Campaign Legal Center (CLC).

“We at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh are encouraged by the outcome, which will better protect our members, clients and all Pennsylvania voters' ability to vote by mail without unjustifiable interference by election officials,” said Esther Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. “This is a significant step in what the Urban League considers to be the right direction on our journey toward removing all barriers to civil rights and economic parity.”

“The League of Women Voters is pleased with the outcome of our case. Now Pennsylvania voters can cast their ballots confidently, knowing they won’t be rejected because of a signature match issue,” said Terrie Griffin, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. “The case for voters is strong, and we are cheered that this move represents true progress in voting rights for Pennsylvanians.”

In 2019, Pennsylvania passed Act 77 and joined more than 30 other states in allowing no-excuse absentee voting. The passage of Act 77, combined with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in nearly 1.5 million voters cast their ballot by mail during the June 2020 presidential primary, a dramatic increase compared to previous cycles.

The dramatic increase in absentee voting, however, also meant that more voters would be at risk from the inconsistent application of signature-verification policies across the Commonwealth. Signature variance – and risk of disenfranchisement – is more prevalent among certain populations of voters, including those with disabilities, those with less formal levels of education, elderly and young voters, and voters for whom English is a second language. As a result of the newly-issued guidance, no voter will be at risk of having their voter rejected due to a perceived signature mismatch.

Learn more about the case.

HELENA, MT – Today, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a motion to intervene in Trump v. Bullock on behalf of its client, the League of Women Voters of Montana, to defend Montana Governor Steve Bullock’s August 6 directive allowing counties to conduct the general election primarily by mail at their discretion. The League was supportive of this directive as a measure to preserve voters’ safe access to the ballot during the ongoing pandemic, and it was challenged by the Trump campaign, Republican National Committee, and others. A hearing is scheduled for September 22. 

“Montana counties should not be prevented from allowing their citizens to vote safely during the pandemic,” said Jonathan Diaz, legal counsel, voting rights, at Campaign Legal Center (CLC). “The ability to conduct elections by mail proved critical during this year’s primary elections in Montana, and the counties should not be prohibited from doing so again this fall. Vote by mail is safe and secure, and the existing directive allows local officials to conduct their elections in a safe and secure manner that best fits their communities and benefits all Montana voters.”

“We clearly saw how voters were protected when Montana conducted our primary election by mail in June,” said Nancy Leifer, president of the League of Women Voters of Montana. “The COVID-19 pandemic does not show signs of stopping before November, threatening the health and safety of Montana’s most vulnerable voting communities: communities of color, the elderly, and disabled individuals. The governor’s vote by mail Directive was the common-sense choice to protect voters’ health and their access to the ballot. The League seeks to intervene to protect the rights of voters this November.” 

The governor’s August 6 directive mirrored his earlier directive allowing counties to conduct the state’s June 2 primary election by mail. As a result of that directive, all 56 Montana counties chose to conduct their elections by mail.