Pennsylvania election officials are working to avoid controversy surrounding the high-stakes presidential race, informing voters not to expect Election Night results. The state is crucial in this election cycle, as evidenced by visits from Vice President Harris and former President Trump. State law prohibits the processing of mail-in ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day, a process known as pre-canvassing. Nearby states like Florida can report their results on Election Night due to different laws.
The surge in mail-in ballot use in Pennsylvania began with the signing of Act 77 into law, allowing voters to apply for and cast mail-in ballots without an excuse. The coronavirus pandemic further increased the use of mail-in voting. More than 1.2 million Pennsylvanians voted by mail in the 2022 governor’s election, prompting the state to make mail-in ballot applications available earlier than in 2020. However, the state legislature has yet to pass pre-canvassing legislation to allow the processing of mail-in ballots before Election Day.
The issue of pre-canvassing has been a topic of discussion in Pennsylvania as it prepares for the upcoming election. Republicans are pushing for this process to be allowed to prevent delays in reporting results. However, the state Senate has yet to take up the pre-canvassing measure, causing a stalemate. In 2020, a clean pre-canvassing bill failed due to the addition of other provisions, leading to concerns about a repeat of delays in reporting election results.
The Republican party in Pennsylvania has shifted its strategy from focusing on voter fraud concerns with mail-in ballots to encouraging party members to vote by mail. Efforts are being made to ensure election integrity, including preventing non-citizens from registering to vote. Scrutiny on voter rolls has revealed instances of non-citizens being registered to vote in other states, prompting calls for similar checks in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania officials, including Secretary of State Al Schmidt, have assured that the voter registration process in the state requires a Social Security number, minimizing the risk of non-citizens registering to vote. Efforts are being made to update the state’s voter roll system, with plans for a replacement system to be more user-friendly and reliable. Steps are being taken to ensure that the upcoming election is conducted with transparency and security.
Despite challenges and issues surrounding pre-canvassing and voter registration, Pennsylvania election officials are working diligently to prepare for the upcoming presidential election. Training programs for new election directors, an election threat task force, and upgrades to the voter registration system are all part of the preparations. The goal is to ensure a free, fair, and secure election in Pennsylvania in 2024.
