Governor Tom Wolf is calling for 4 reforms before the November election in order to ease concerns counties have expressed over how to quickly process and count thousands of mail-in ballots in addition to problems over staffing polls during the pandemic.
“Voting during a pandemic will be different for all of us, but I remain confident that no matter how you vote – our state’s election systems are safe and secure,” said Gov. Wolf. “Counting a record number of votes may not be complete on election night, but what’s most important is that every vote is counted, and the results are accurate, even if it takes more time than usual."
Gov. Wolf’s recommended election improvements include:
- Allowing counties to start pre-canvassing ballots 21 days before the election day to get accurate results faster. The current law restricts counties from beginning this process until 7 a.m. on election day. The time-consuming procedure involves scanning and verifying the ballot envelope, checking the voter’s eligibility, opening the mail and secrecy envelopes, and removing and scanning the ballot. Counties would not tabulate or report vote totals until polls close at 8 p.m. on election day.
- Allowing counties to count eligible ballots postmarked by election day and received by the Friday following election day to ensure that all ballots mailed by the deadline are counted.
- Requiring counties to start sending mail-in ballots at least 28 days before the election rather than 14 days as currently required. Many counties mail ballots to voters even earlier, but this change ensures voters who apply early have at least four weeks to receive and return their ballot.
- Letting counties appoint poll workers to vacant positions earlier than five days before an election. More poll workers are still needed, and the Department of State is encouraging businesses, colleges and organizations to reach out to their county elections office and volunteer at their local precincts.
“We’ve made great improvements in our elections with mail-in ballots, more security and new voting systems with a paper trail. But this will be a historic election and the nation is watching, so the legislature should take immediate action to make it better. The smart changes I have outlined will strengthen our elections, help people to vote safely from home and allow counties to more efficiently process the surge in ballots so results are available faster.”
Different pieces of legislation have already been proposed to reform elections. Governor Tom Wolf has already indicated, however, that he will veto one of those bills in its current form. Republican-led HB 2626 would, among other actions, open precanvassing to three days before the election.
"That bill hasn't even come out of the Senate and it's already been listed to be vetoed," said State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, Majority Leader. "I would ask what the motivation is for vetoing a bill that's not even complete and you don't know what the content is in that bill."
Democratic State Rep. Kevin Boyle, meantime, said on Wednesday he plans to push for 10-14 days of precanvassing.
Rep. Boyle also claimed Republicans want to prohibit drop boxes.
"What Republicans want to do before they will agree to anything is largely voter suppression," he said in part.
Republicans, however, countered that their bill would open more voting options than ever before.
"Drop boxes are not legal as of the current statute of election law. We have created four opportunities for people to provide a ballot. The Governor is providing free postage. You get a ballot sent to you 50 days ahead of time. You ought to be able to turn it back in by mail which is the drop box at the end of your driveway called your mailbox," said Rep. Benninghoff. "We provide the opportunity that should you want you could drive it to your elections office, drop it off anytime that 50 days. If the day before the election you realize you didn't mail it back in our bill provides the opportunity that you can actually walk to the election precinct that you normally would right there in your neighborhood, give it to the judge of elections. So, there's multiple ways to do this, multiple ways that people did not have one year ago."
Nearly 1.5 million votes were cast by mail during the Pennsylvania primary in June.
The Governor's office said the Department of State and counties, which administer Pennsylvania’s elections, continue making improvements and that many counties will use high-speed scanners and other technology to quickly process millions of mail-in ballots in the Nov. 3 election.
Eligible Pennsylvanians can register to vote by Oct. 19 and apply for their mail-in or absentee ballot by Oct. 27 online at votespa.com, in person at their county election offices, or by paper forms submitted by mail. Online application for mail-in and absentee ballots are also available in Spanish. Pennsylvania is not automatically sending ballots to voters.
After verifying the voter’s eligibility, counties send the voter a mail-in ballot with return postage paid by the Department of State, so casting a ballot is free to voters. Voters can return their ballot by mail, in person at their county election offices or at other authorized drop-off locations, which many counties expect to provide.
For voters who prefer to vote in person, polling places will be available in all counties on election day, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.