Pennsylvania lawmakers will likely not consider legislation related to elections until after the May primary. | Adobe Stock
Pennsylvania lawmakers will likely not consider legislation related to elections until after the May primary. | Adobe Stock
The Pennsylvania House State Government Committee completes its 14 election oversight meetings May 5, less than two weeks before the May 18 state municipal primary, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports it appears the state will again be without extra time to process mail ballots.
This likely will lead to delayed results, putting increased pressure on counties reeling from the most expensive state election ever only six months earlier.
Local officials told the media last month they likely will not consider any election-related legislation until after the municipal primary, adding that they can’t predict how many voters will take advantage of the state’s no-excuse mail voting law during an off-year election.
“It’s just not possible, even with a small election, to get everything counted in one day plus run another election,” Armstrong County Election Director Marybeth Kuznik told the Post-Gazette.
Florida, well known for having secure and efficient elections (after reforms following Bush v. Gore), allows absentee ballots to be counted beginning 22 days before Election Day, according to Ballotpedia. The county canvassing board can begin the canvassing of vote-by-mail ballots at 7 a.m. on the 22nd day before the election, but not later than noon on the day following the election.
In addition, for any Florida county using electronic tabulating equipment, the processing of vote-by-mail ballots through such tabulating equipment may begin at 7 a.m. on the 22nd day before the election. However, notwithstanding any such authorization to begin canvassing or otherwise processing vote-by-mail ballots early, no result shall be released until after the closing of the polls in that county on Election Day.
Any supervisor, deputy supervisor, canvassing board member, election board member or election employee who releases the results of a canvassing or processing of vote-by-mail ballots prior to the closing of the polls in that county on election day commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
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