Pennsylvania's early-voting option is a mess, but very popular

A contentious pre-election voting option in a major battleground state sparked frustration, long lines, and voter suppression claims earlier this week. As early voting gained unexpected support from influential political figures, many county offices faced a surge of individuals wanting to utilize the state's 'on-demand mail ballot voting' process. In Bucks County, near Philadelphia, voters endured lengthy waits to apply for and submit their mail-in ballots on Tuesday, the final day for in-person early voting.

A successful lawsuit extended the deadline, highlighting ongoing legal disputes over mail-in ballots, including date requirements and counting provisional votes rejected for technical reasons. A significant challenge stems from the lack of a centralized election authority, coupled with a politically divided government, which hampers the streamlined implementation of the mail ballot voting system.

In the last presidential election, over 3 million Pennsylvanians requested mail-in ballots, with 85% voting by mail. Over 2 million mail-in ballots have been requested for the upcoming election, and 71% have been returned. Unlike other states, the secretary of state cannot enforce uniform guidelines across counties, resulting in varied interpretations and procedures.

Bucks County officials called for legislative reforms to clarify election laws and standardize practices. One unresolved issue is the restrictive policy on pre-processing mail ballots, allowing officials to start canvassing only on Election Day, causing result delays. Act 77, enacted five years ago, introduced no-excuse mail-in voting, surviving legal challenges aimed at blocking it.

While unexpectedly supporting mail-in voting, prominent political figures encourage early ballot submission, with grassroots efforts promoting voter engagement. This shift presents challenges for election workers, given the high demand and time-consuming nature of mail-in voting. Voters apply for, complete, and submit ballots at designated sites in a single transaction, potentially taking up to 12 minutes per voter.

Inexperience with the process and viral misinformation on social media increase vulnerability to erroneous claims about voting procedures. A recent video falsely alleged voter fraud but was clarified by officials, attributing the incident to language assistance for registered voters.

A legal complaint alleged voters were turned away before the deadline, supported by affidavits from individuals denied voting despite timely arrival. Social media videos showing early line closures by police went viral, further fueling voter suppression debate. A political figure's social media post urged reporting of similar incidents, demanding accountability from political opponents.

A campaign official addressed the Bucks County situation, stressing the resolution through additional early voting days as an example of the system functioning effectively.