Swing States Weigh Early Counting of Mail-In-Ballots

The Cumbersome and sometimes Slow Counting of an Expected Record Number of Mail-in-Ballots, especially in some crucial Swing States, could Delay Results and Open the Door to Challenges in this year’s November Elections.

In 13 States and the District of Columbia, including the closely Contested Battlegrounds of: Michigan and Pennsylvania, Election Officials can’t Start Processing Absentee Ballots until Election Day, and in Three more States they can’t Start until the Polls Close.

With Millions of such Ballots anticipated, that’s a daunting, if not Impossible, Task to Perform Quickly.

And with many more Voters using Mail-in-Ballots for the First Time, Mistakes such as: Failing to Sign the Envelope or Sending it too Late likely will lead to a Larger Share of Rejected Ballots.

The Possible Result: Vote Counts that aren’t Complete for Days or even Weeks, Creating an Opportunity for Candidates, Parties, Members of the Media, or Others, to Sow Doubts about the Legitimacy of the Process.

Election Officials and Lawmakers in some States, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, are trying to Alter Counting Procedures to Avoid that Outcome.

But time is Running Short to Alter the Rules, and Changing Election Procedures, on the fly, may create Confusion.

I have suggested that All States should Open and Count their Returned Mail-in-Ballots Every Night, but Not Report the Results, until After the Election is Closed on November 3rd. This will also give the State, the Opportunity to Notify the Voters, who need to Correct any Problems with their Ballot.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker