Pennsylvania, Alabama Face Voting Law Challenges

In Alabama, a new law banning assistance with absentee ballot applications, seen by state Republicans as a measure to combat 'ballot harvesting,' is being challenged by groups including the NAACP and the League of Women Voters, who argue it criminalizes civic engagement. The Alabama attorney general’s office defends the law as necessary for ballot integrity. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and other organizations challenges the requirement for mail-in ballot envelopes to have a correct handwritten date, arguing that it disenfranchises voters and is unconstitutional under state law. The Pennsylvania Secretary of State supports the petitioners, while the Republican National Committee defends the date requirement, arguing it serves multiple legal purposes. The outcome of these cases could significantly impact voter participation in the upcoming elections in both states.