My State (Pa) Won't Start Counting Mail-In Ballots until 7am Election Day

[Grey_Beard]

Here in NC I was worried about these type of shenanigans and even though I did request a mail-in ballot I tore it up and tossed it and will be voting in person election day.

Let’s hope you can. In Florida, as in Pennsylvania, we have turn our mail-in ballot to be shredded at the voting site to be able to get a ballot and vote in-person. Not sure of NC rules though.

 

[Zorba]

Here in NC I was worried about these type of shenanigans and even though I did request a mail-in ballot I tore it up and tossed it and will be voting in person election day.

I think most states require you to show up with your full mailer in order to vote in person.

If they won't let you vote, demand a provisional ballot.

 

[Ken g6]

I think most states require you to show up with your full mailer in order to vote in person.

If they won't let you vote, demand a provisional ballot.

Colorado doesn't, for some reason. But I've heard our voting system here is one of the best in the nation. (For voters, that is.)

 

[Indus]

Exactly what I'm doing here in Pa. It's crucial.

I got my mail-in ballot first. My friends and I all did. Many of them have already mailed it in. Others knew of this dilemma, but are afraid to vote in person because of covid.

It's not nearly the exaggeration it could be to say it's worth the risk of death to me to make sure Trump is voted out ON the day of the election, not that I think I'm gonna' die from voting in person. Which reminds me, people are TERRIBLE at accurate risk assessment.

Get this! You HAVE to bring your unmailed ballot with you to the polls in order to vote!

You can already know that there is a small, but possibly not insignificant percentage of people who will forget to bring their unused mail-in ballot with them.

Meanwhile I believe you can still go to a gun show and get hooked-up with fewer obstacles.

What happens if you never got your ballot and it was lost in the mail?

 

[Jhhnn]

Colorado doesn't, for some reason. But I've heard our voting system here is one of the best in the nation. (For voters, that is.)

Smooth as silk & rock solid. We didn't change a thing because of the pandemic-

Voting in Colorado

Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics

ballotpedia.org

 

[Wreckem]

Is there a rule or something that you have to stop counting votes at 12:01 AM on 11/4?

No. California counts ballots for 14 days after the election. Votes have to be post marked prior to Election Day.

No state has their votes all counts and certified on Election Day. Most take about a week. Some two.

Some republican controlled counties in PA ha r said they will not start counting the early votes until the morning or November 4. Some others will not start counting the til day of counting is done. Only The democratic controlled counties are starting to count at 7am on November 3.

there is no valid legal argument to stop votes from being counted that arrived before or Election Day.

 

[TheVrolok]

Exactly what I'm doing here in Pa. It's crucial.

I got my mail-in ballot first.

... snip ...

Same here. My wife and I both received our mail in ballots, but due to the on going legal concerns here in PA, we're both taking them with us and voting in person on the 3rd. Too much at stake to have my vote invalidated by a Republican power grab.

 

[Brainonska511]

there is no valid legal argument to stop votes from being counted that arrived before or Election Day.

There will be a "valid" legal reason if Justice Kegstand has his way.

 

[Bitek]

Exactly what I'm doing here in Pa. It's crucial.

I got my mail-in ballot first. My friends and I all did. Many of them have already mailed it in. Others knew of this dilemma, but are afraid to vote in person because of covid.

It's not nearly the exaggeration it could be to say it's worth the risk of death to me to make sure Trump is voted out ON the day of the election, not that I think I'm gonna' die from voting in person. Which reminds me, people are TERRIBLE at accurate risk assessment.

Get this! You HAVE to bring your unmailed ballot with you to the polls in order to vote!

You can already know that there is a small, but possibly not insignificant percentage of people who will forget to bring their unused mail-in ballot with them.

Meanwhile I believe you can still go to a gun show and get hooked-up with fewer obstacles.

Seems easier to just use the drop boxes to me. God knows what shenanigans will happen showing up with a mail in day of election. If something is missing you'll vote provisionally.

Here in NC I was worried about these type of shenanigans and even though I did request a mail-in ballot I tore it up and tossed it and will be voting in person election day.

Like this. Panicking may be worse for screwing you out of your vote.

 

[Bitek]

What happens if you never got your ballot and it was lost in the mail?

You can always vote in person provisionally.

They wait to count once they verify mail in isn't returned.

 

[Jhhnn]

Seems easier to just use the drop boxes to me. God knows what shenanigans will happen showing up with a mail in day of election. If something is missing you'll vote provisionally.

Drop boxes are sharply limited in PA, one per county iirc. Because Republicans, of course.

 

[Perknose]

Drop boxes are sharply limited in PA, one per county iirc. Because Republicans, of course.

Looooong lines each day around the courthouse, where you go to drop it off in person. Same at all the other county seats around me.

 

[Bitek]

Drop boxes are sharply limited in PA, one per county iirc. Because Republicans, of course.

There are multiple per county, but not enough really.

Might really suck for the last minute people.

But yes, fking Republicans.

 

[Zorba]

No. California counts ballots for 14 days after the election. Votes have to be post marked prior to Election Day.

No state has their votes all counts and certified on Election Day. Most take about a week. Some two.

Some republican controlled counties in PA ha r said they will not start counting the early votes until the morning or November 4. Some others will not start counting the til day of counting is done. Only The democratic controlled counties are starting to count at 7am on November 3.

there is no valid legal argument to stop votes from being counted that arrived before or Election Day.

I could see a valid reason if a state didn't make people bring in their absentee ballots to vote in person. That way they could make sure to not count a mailed absentee ballot. But there are other ways of handling that.

I read Oklahoma's law on early vote counting, it is very concerned with not allowing anyone to know the count prior to closing of the polls, but it has some seemingly decent controls for that, which still allow an early count if the county deems it necessary.

 

[fskimospy]

Let me get this straight, by law PA can't start counting until Election Day and the fear is they won't finish that day so any votes uncounted will be claimed (through Republican lawsuit) to be invalid? Do I have that right?

If that's the case why doesn't the Secretary of State, who is a Democrat, just instruct staff to start counting the mail-in ballots and not add/count the in-person totals until all mail-ins are counted? That would essentially mean any lawsuit to invalidate uncounted ballots will surely hit mostly in-person ballots, which the Republicans believe will favor them.

The law apparently says that they can’t be counted until Election Day. Democrats attempted to cut a deal with Republicans so they could start prepping them ahead of time but they refused unless Democrats agreed to conditions that would invalidate lots of ballots.

The bad faith is limitless.

 

[TheVrolok]

Looooong lines each day around the courthouse, where you go to drop it off in person. Same at all the other county seats around me.

Fortunately, the drop box by me (not too far from you, if I recall) has not had significant lines. I took a few days off to help drive folks with transportation limitations to the drop box and things went pretty smoothly. Not sure what the lack of lines implies about turn out, if anything.

 

[MtnMan]

Alaska will not count mail-in votes until 11/10.

 

[MtnMan]

Is there a rule or something that you have to stop counting votes at 12:01 AM on 11/4?

NO!

Information is your friend, and here are some facts on counting and timelines -----> https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/27/upshot/election-results-timing.html

 

[gothuevos]

NO!

Information is your friend, and here are some facts on counting and timelines -----> https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/27/upshot/election-results-timing.html

Yes, I was being facetious.

 

[MtnMan]

Yes, I was being facetious.

In today's political environment one can never be sure. Satire of The Onion, and New Yorker Satire articles have blurred the line between satire and reality.

This is not directed at you, but I have been sorely in error when I think "they can't really be that stupid... can they?", to discover that they are really that stupid.

 

[nickqt]

In today's political environment one can never be sure. Satire of The Onion, and New Yorker Satire articles have blurred the line between satire and reality.

This is not directed at you, but I have been sorely in error when I think "they can't really be that stupid... can they?", to discover that they are really that stupid.

I feel like you're a mouse and the it you're talking to is a cat. Beware of "playing nice".

 

[MrSquished]

In today's political environment one can never be sure. Satire of The Onion, and New Yorker Satire articles have blurred the line between satire and reality.

This is not directed at you, but I have been sorely in error when I think "they can't really be that stupid... can they?", to discover that they are really that stupid.

The guy is not that with it. He is not voting this election, his words in the voting thread, I can only assume because he is unable to comprehend the threat Trumpism is to the fabric of this country.

 

[Zorba]

Fortunately, the drop box by me (not too far from you, if I recall) has not had significant lines. I took a few days off to help drive folks with transportation limitations to the drop box and things went pretty smoothly. Not sure what the lack of lines implies about turn out, if anything.

Do you have to show ID or something at the "drop box?" Or why are there lines at the drop boxes?

 

[Thump553]

How a government that actually believes in and supports the right to vote handles the problem: Here in CT the law permits election officials to prequalify mail-in ballots starting this weekend. The votes aren't counted yet, but all the pre qualifications are checked. For example, here the voter is required to sign the outside of the envelope containing the ballot. Many town clerks are this weekend sorting out those mistakes, calling the voters and have special lines for voters to come and sign their envelopes.

With COVID now ramping up so rapidly all over the country, those in government that forced this change-over the braying of Idiot In Chief-are the real unsung backbone of the USA, not the Fool or his flag wavers.

 

[TheVrolok]

Do you have to show ID or something at the "drop box?" Or why are there lines at the drop boxes?

Nope. Just demand I suppose, in the heavily populated areas.