For a vote-by-mail ballot to count, the voter has to place it in a specific envelope referred to as a "secrecy envelope" and write their name in the correct place. Note that there won't be any information about the voter on that secrecy envelope. Next, this envelope is to be placed inside a postage-paid addressed return envelope, where voters get to put their name and address. If one forgets their secrecy envelope, which can be the case with many, their ballot will be deemed a "naked ballot". According to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling, a vote cannot be counted if it doesn't have its secrecy envelope.

Secret envelopes are intended to help keep the count of authenticated votes. They are also meant to maintain privacy. However, concerns arise in cases where a vote is received without a secret envelope and deemed null. Many have raised the question that when ballot counting occurs in centralized locations via machines, how does it concern people's secrecy? Concern has also been raised that the secrecy envelopes might slow down the process of ballot counting altogether.

Voting by mail has been beneficial as it increases voter access and turnaround. This method also reduces voting costs by a total of 30%. By contrast, issues like "naked votes" raise questions about the whole process's authenticity. Vote-by-mail also increases the risk of fraud, which is more easily prevented when in-person votes are cast. Even though these laws have been passed to make voting as fair and accessible as possible, some believe it has the potential to lead to electoral chaos.

With this in mind, should Pennsylvania eliminate secrecy envelopes for mail-in ballots?