VoterHub 2024

In 2020, Philadelphia processed mail ballots at a rate of 5,000 per hour, while Allegheny County processed more than 12,000 ballots per hour. Philadelphia has new equipment that would help count ballots faster, though election officials are divided on whether or not to use it this year.

Election officials, observers, and campaigners have very specific jobs throughout the election process. Here’s what you need to know about each.

Incumbent Republican Stacey Garrity is facing Democratic challenger Erin McClelland to head the department charged with safeguarding and managing the state’s money, and administering programs aimed at providing families with financial empowerment.

Mail ballots are now available in approximately 50 counties, giving Pennsylvania voters the opportunity to cast their vote early through the mail, in person at their county election office, or via drop box or satellite election office if available in their area.

Incumbent Republican Tim DeFoor faces a reelection challenge from Democratic state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta for the office in charge of policing the state and local agencies that receive and spend taxpayers’ money.

The reversal of a previous decision not to deploy drop boxes came after the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against the Luzerne County Board of Elections and Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo.

The court rejected a request by voting rights and left-leaning groups to stop counties from throwing out mail-in ballots that lack a handwritten date or have an incorrect date on the return envelope. It also rejected a challenge by Republican political organizations to county election officials letting voters remedy disqualifying mail-in ballot mistakes.

Election officials in the NEPA county estimate they now spend about 40% of their time on security and working with local law enforcement and emergency managers on election plans.