Election officials in Pennsylvania and Georgia provided insights into the ballot counting processes during a recent government meeting, highlighting the challenges and improvements made since previous elections.

In Pennsylvania, the counting of mail-in ballots is a meticulous and labor-intensive task. Officials must open envelopes, verify signatures against voter rolls, and prepare the ballots for counting. Due to state law, they cannot begin this process until 7 AM on election day. In Allegheny County, officials reported handling approximately 215,000 mail-in ballots, taking until 3 PM to prepare them for counting. While delays were significant in the 2020 elections due to the sudden influx of mail-in ballots, officials are optimistic this year, citing improved equipment and experience. A former election official suggested that all mail-in ballots could potentially be counted by midnight.

Conversely, Georgia's election process has seen changes aimed at expediting results. With polls closing at 7 PM, the state is expected to provide quicker results compared to previous elections. Following delays in 2020 that fueled misinformation, Georgia has implemented new laws requiring early voting and absentee ballots to be reported within one hour of polls closing. In Gwinnett County, officials are prepared to process around 300,000 early voting ballots, which are crucial for providing an early indication of the election outcome.

Both states are navigating the complexities of mail-in voting and ballot counting, with Pennsylvania focusing on overcoming past challenges and Georgia emphasizing timely reporting to enhance election integrity.