tag | election explainer

Police escorts, sealed containers and chain of custody documentation: These are some of the measures that Pennsylvania counties take to secure ballots while they are transported from polling places to county facilities after polls close on Election Day.

Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, is often the subject of election-related misinformation. Social media users have falsely suggested that large numbers of migrants are illegally registering to vote in Pennsylvania, incorrectly asserted that the time it takes to count votes in the state is a smokescreen for fraud, and made baseless claims about foul play involving deceased voters.

Time is running out for Pennsylvanians to request a mail ballot and submit it to vote in the Nov. 5 general election. 

Local election officials in Pennsylvania say ballots don’t always arrive in the best condition. They may be ripped, stained by coffee or food, or even been burned on the edges. In these situations, officials can reconstruct the ballot in a duplicate to ensure that they are properly counted by election equipment.

The deadline for Pennsylvanians to register to vote for the 2024 general election is Oct. 21 — 15 days before Election Day on Nov. 5.

As the Nov. 5 presidential election approaches, so do multiple deadlines for Pennsylvanians looking to submit a ballot through the mail.
The state allows any registered voter to cast a ballot by mail without providing a reason. The deadline to register is Oct. 21.