No. 20-542October Term 2020Decided Feb 22, 2021
Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Degraffenreid
This case challenges a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that let mailed ballots received up to three days after Election Day be counted and told officials to presume ballots with missing or unclear postmarks were mailed on time unless proven otherwise.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Feb 22, 2021
- What it's about
This case challenges a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that let mailed ballots received up to three days after Election Day be counted and told officials to presume ballots with missing or unclear postmarks were mailed on time unless proven otherwise. The petition argues that the state court changed election rules set by the legislature for federal elections and presidential electors, and that those changes conflict with federal law requiring a uniform national Election Day.
Question presented
Whether the Electors Clause constrains state courts from altering election deadlines enacted by state legislatures?
- Case path
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Middle District / Decision released Feb 22, 2021
- Area
Elections
Timing
Decided February 22, 2021
The Court released its decision on February 22, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases




Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 2, 2026
- Method
- Methodology
Primary materials9
Supreme Court docket 20-542
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Primary case document
Supreme Court document | Jul 25, 2026
CourtListener docket record
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Opinion
opinion | Feb 22, 2021
Reply
brief | Nov 9, 2020
Lower Court Orders/Opinions
order | Nov 6, 2020
Petition
brief | Oct 23, 2020
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 2, 2026
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 2, 2026