HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVAN IA
HARRISBURG

October 13,2022

Leigh Chapman
Acting Secretary
Pennsylvania Department of State
302 North Office Building,40l North Street
Harrisburg,PA 17120

Dear Acting Secretary Chapman:

o'Guidance
We are writing to request the Department of State update its September 26,2022'
Concerning Bxamination of Absentee and Mail-in Ballot Retum Envelopes" to require undated
ballots be segregated following canvassing'

Earlier this week, in Ritter v. Migliori, the Supreme Court of the United States vacated the
decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals that required undated no-excuse absentee ballots
be counted as valid ballots in Pennsylvania's elections'

While we continue to believe the plain language of $3150.16 of the Pennsylvania Election Code
is clear that no-excuse absentee ballots must be dated to be valid, conflicting
judicial
interpretations, coupled with frequently revised guidance from your department, has created
ambiguity over this provision.

As it relates to undated ballots, the current guidance makes no provision for ballot segregation
post-canvass. Given the high likelihood of new litigation over this provision, segregating undated
ballots is the only guarantee these ballots will be easily preserved.

As always, ensuring elections are properly conducted and current election law is followed
remains a top concem for all Pennsylvanians. We hope you see the utility in requiring undated
ballot segregation post-canvass in ensuring confidence in our elections.

Sincerely

k
Kerry A. Benninghofl Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, Speaker of the House
171't District l0oth District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Pennsylvania House of Representatives