Delays Expected in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
Key swing states Pennsylvania and Wisconsin may face ballot counting delays in the 2024 election. State laws restrict when officials can start processing mail-in and absentee ballots. Unlike other states, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin do not allow early ballot processing before Election Day. Officials must wait until 7 a.m. on Election Day to begin counting mail ballots. This situation mirrors 2020, when Pennsylvania’s results took several days to finalize. That year, Joe Biden secured enough Electoral College votes the Saturday after Election Day.
Efforts to speed up ballot counting have faced legislative roadblocks. Local election clerks in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have pushed for earlier processing since 2020. However, proposed changes in Pennsylvania’s legislature have stalled over disagreements on voter ID rules. Wisconsin’s Republican-led initiative to allow early counting also failed to pass. As a result, local officials must manage in-person voting and mail-in ballot processing simultaneously, increasing the chance of delays.
State Law Differences and Impact on Counting
Most U.S. states allow early processing of mail-in ballots, but Pennsylvania and Wisconsin remain exceptions. The Brennan Center for Justice notes that 43 states permit pre-processing of ballots, enabling officials to verify voter details ahead of Election Day. Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State’s office highlights that local officials cannot prepare mail ballots for scanning before Election Day morning. This restriction puts additional pressure on election workers tasked with managing thousands of polling places.
Despite limited legislative progress, Pennsylvania counties have invested in new ballot sorting machines, thanks to increased funding. Officials hope these machines will speed up counting. They also expect fewer absentee ballots than in 2020, which could reduce processing time. However, many suburban counties still face resource challenges, such as limited staffing and funding, that could further delay results.
Wisconsin’s local officials have adopted central processing locations with high-speed counting machines. While these machines should improve efficiency, officials remain uncertain about the overall timeline. Over 1.2 million mail-in ballots had already been received in Wisconsin as of October 31. Election officials caution that counting could continue into Wednesday morning, with local organizations urging voters to stay patient.
Concerns About Election Integrity and Public Perception
During the 2020 election, Donald Trump declared victory before all mail-in ballots were counted. His early declaration fueled baseless claims of election fraud when later-counted mail-in votes shifted results in Biden’s favor. A similar scenario could unfold in 2024 if early vote counts favor one candidate before all ballots are processed. Close races in swing states heighten the risk of public tension as delayed results trickle in.
Political analysts warn that delays in Pennsylvania’s key suburban areas could significantly impact the election’s timeline. Local jurisdictions may face staffing shortages and limited funding to handle the volume of ballots. These resource constraints increase the possibility that final results will not be available for several days after Election Day. Election officials and watchdog groups continue to emphasize that delays do not signify fraud but are a result of existing state laws and operational constraints.