Most mail-in & absentee ballots counted in Pa.

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

As ballots continued to be tabulated and unofficial election results continued to come in across Pennsylvania Friday, it became more clear who the winners are in races for state offices.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Friday, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar reported that the overwhelming majority of mail-in and absentee ballots in Pennsylvania had been counted and the process of counting provisional ballots had begun.

“Pennsylvania counties have been incredibly hard at work canvassing all the ballots to provide accurate results as quickly as possible following best practices and responsibilities pursuant to state and federal law,” Boockvar said. “We are very thankful to all the election officials working extremely long hours to make our democracy work and ensure that every qualified voter’s vote is counted safely and securely.”

Under state law, county boards of election must individually adjudicate each provisional ballot and assess within seven days of an election whether they meet the standards for counting. The counties will do so by verifying the voter was registered to vote in the precinct in which the ballot was cast, and that the voter did not cast a mail-in ballot prior to requesting the provisional ballot at the polling place. 

Elections divisions in Pennsylvania will collect military ballots through Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of State said in a prepared statement Friday evening.

Even though provisional and military ballots are being counted through the start of next week, the outcome of races for state row offices and Senate seats, including some in Mid-Mon Valley districts, became clearer Friday.

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