A state judge rejected a request from U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, and another Republican lawmaker to toss out provisional ballots that were made after counties allowed voters who erred in completing or packaging their mail-in ballots to correct their mistakes. Instead he ordered a recount of particular provisional ballots known as “cured.”

Kelly, another Republican lawmaker and three voters filed suit Tuesday night in the Commonwealth Court, asking the state's intermediate appellate court to reject provisional ballots cast by voters who initially cast mail-in ballots. These mail-in ballots can be marked deficient for a number of reasons — including “naked” ballots where the secrecy envelope is not used — and are therefore rejected. But instead, State Judge Kevin Brobson ordered a recount of certain votes that were cast as provisional ballots.

This is an excerpt from a larger article that appears in Sunday's Butler Eagle.