NORRISTOWN, PA — In a recent move aimed at upholding the sanctity of the voting process, the Montgomery County Board of Elections has approved a policy that allows mail-in and absentee ballots with an incorrect or missing year to be included in the vote count. This policy comes as part of Montgomery County’s broader commitment to safeguarding the right to vote and ensuring that every eligible voter’s voice is heard.
The policy approval, passed 2 to 1 by the Montgomery County Board of Elections, could be seen as a response to a common human error — the misdating of the year, particularly in the early months when many are still adjusting to writing the new year. The approved policy will apply to ballots that include a date with a month and day within the permissible period for returning mail-in and absentee ballots, despite an incorrect or missing year.
“This policy is a common-sense approach to ensuring that every eligible voter’s choice is counted,” said Jamila H. Winder, Montgomery County Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Board of Elections. “Votes shouldn’t be discarded over minor technicalities that reflect common human errors like dating the wrong year.”
This policy will have an immediate impact on the special election held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, in North Penn School District, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s inaugural election of 2024. Of the total 18,656 ballots cast, 75 mail-in and absentee ballots were marked with either a missing year or the year written as “2023.”
Neil Makhija, Montgomery County Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Elections, emphasized the importance of this policy in protecting voters’ rights. “The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy. We know these voters are eligible and registered, and in Montgomery County, we are committed to protecting their right to vote.”
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has yet to rule on the specific issue of mail-in ballots marked with an incorrect year. In the absence of such a ruling, Montgomery County’s new policy can be seen as a proactive measure to safeguard the democratic process.
In an era increasingly characterized by contentious debates on voting rights and election integrity, this policy speaks to the heart of democracy’s most fundamental principle: the right of every eligible citizen to cast their vote and to have that vote counted. By recognizing and accommodating the simple human error of misdating, Montgomery County is sending a clear message: every vote matters, and every voice deserves to be heard.
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