'Don't wait': Pennsylvania state officials urge voters to bypass the mail to return ballots

With less than a week until Election Day and millions of absentee ballots still outstanding, state election officials are revising their message for voters, now urging them to bypass the Postal Service and instead vote in person or hand-deliver their ballots to ensure they are delivered in time to be counted.

Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar on Thursday warned voters about potential postal delays, encouraging voters to use drop boxes or deliver ballots by hand.

Mail-in voting is expected to be at unprecedented levels this election cycle due to the health concerns of the novel coronavirus pandemic. But of the 3 million ballots voters requested in the commonwealth, only half have been returned so far.

"Make a plan today to vote, do not wait, the best way to ensure your vote is counted and your voice is heard is to get that vote in," Boockvar said.

More:It may be too late to return your Pa. absentee ballot by mail. Here's what to do instead

Wolf said over 99 percent of mail-in ballots have been sent out, but their could be mailing delays.

If there are Pennsylvanians who have not yet received their mail-in ballot, Boockvar encourages them to go to the county election office and get a replacement ballot.

Voters will also be able to vote in-person by provisional ballot on Election Day if they don’t get their mail-in ballot on time.

The last-minute push to bypass the Postal Service comes after months of concern from critics about the reliability of the mail in the electoral process, budgetary concerns with the agency and threats to cut services in a presidential election year.

The move also comes following last night’s Supreme Court ruling that will allow the commonwealth to count ballots received after Election Day. 

The decision rules that ballots can be received up to three days after the election, even if there is no legible postmark.

"We know the court rulings are confusing but there is one simple way to ensure your vote is counted — submit your ballot today," Boockvar said. 

She also reminded voters that their ballots must include a privacy envelope, or they will be rejected.

With these changes, the state is expecting major delays in when they will have final counts, which is why the state’s site will not just list returns, but also the number of mail-in ballots that remain to be counted in each county.

"All votes will be counted; we will have accurate results even if it takes longer than normal," Wolf said.

At least five counties in Pennsylvania have said they won’t begin counting mail-in ballots until Wednesday Nov. 4.

"We’re going to be having a conversation with every county that says they’ll be waiting until after Tuesday," she said.

She also warned Butler County to stop checking IDs and signatures for those dropping off mail-in ballots.

"We’re making it very clear that’s not authorized," Boockvar said.

Also of interest:A farmhouse in western Pennsylvania serves as a mecca for the Trump faithful