Republicans lose bid to block Pennsylvania voters from ‘curing’ mail-in ballots

Pennsylvania election officials will be able to notify voters of any mistakes in their mail-in ballots and let them make changes, the state’s top court ruled, in a blow to Republicans who sought to block the practice in a state crucial to determining who will be the next US president.

In declining on Saturday to hear a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and its state affiliate against so-called notice and cure procedures, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said the RNC filed the case too close to the November 5 election, which pits Republican former president Donald Trump against Democrat Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Pennsylvania is one of seven key battlegrounds likely to sway the state-by-state Electoral College outcome that determines the winner of US presidential elections.

Whichever candidate wins Pennsylvania will receive 19 electoral votes towards the total of 270 needed for victory.

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Joe Biden quits US presidential race to endorse VP Kamala Harris

Joe Biden quits US presidential race to endorse VP Kamala Harris

The case is one of more than 120 voting-related lawsuits the RNC is involved with across 26 states.

Republicans say they are trying to restore faith in elections by ensuring people do not vote illegally, but some legal experts and voting rights groups argue the legal blitz is meant to lay the groundwork to challenge potential losses and suppress votes for Democrats.