The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stop the counting of provisional ballots cast by Pennsylvania voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected due to procedural errors, dealing a setback to Republican efforts to exclude these votes. The ruling, which came without an opinion, paves the way for potentially thousands of votes in the critical swing state.

Democrats hailed the decision as a victory and said it strengthens the right of eligible voters to have their votes counted. Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign celebrated the result, saying, “Today’s decision confirms that for every eligible voter, the right to vote means the right to have their vote counted.”

Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, expressed concern but noted that the court could not issue a statewide order since only Butler County was involved in the case. The ruling comes amid a series of high-profile decisions affecting the presidential race and underscoring Pennsylvania’s crucial role as voters head to the polls.

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