Federal Judge Rules Pennsylvania Absentee Ballot Images Are Public Records

Aug 1, 2024, 01:00 AM

A Pennsylvania appellate court has ruled that digital images of completed absentee and mail-in ballots are public records under the state's Right-to-Know Law. This decision comes after a voter sought access to such records from the 2020 election. The ruling specifies that while scanned copies of absentee and mail-in ballots are considered public records, copies of votes cast in person are not subject to the same disclosure. This ruling allows voters and candidates to obtain the original images for inspection following the November election. The ruling was delivered by a federal judge as voting begins in less than two months.