Approximately 81 percent of Pennsylvania’s mail-in and absentee ballots have been returned to the counties, according to Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar.
“Anyone who has not returned a mail-in ballot should do so now,” Boockvar said. “You should hand deliver it. Do not put it in the mail.”
Pennsylvania voters have until 8 p.m. to return mail-in ballots to their county election office, satellite election office, or official designated drop box.
“The clock is ticking,” Bockvar said.
Here is the statistical breakdown of Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballot situation courtesy the Department of State:
Total number and percentage of Pennsylvania ballots in the process of being mailed
- Number of approved applications = 3,098,947
- Number of ballots confirmed for mailing = 3,082,832
- Number of returned ballots = 2,506,555
Total number of Pennsylvania mail-in/absentee ballots returned by party affiliation
- 1,641,826 ballots returned by registered Democrats
- 586,336 ballots returned by registered Republicans
- 278,393 ballots returned by other voters
- 2,506,555 total ballots returned
According to Boockvar, the more than 2.5 million returned ballots is nearly 10 times as many mail-in and absentee ballots returned in 2016. However, she also reminded voters to be wary of naked ballots.
“If a voter learns today through various notifications, whether email or otherwise, that they returned a naked ballot or perhaps forgot to sign their voter declaration, they can still go to the polls today and vote by provisional ballot,” Boockvar said.
Although the polls close at 8 p.m. tonight, Boockvar said voters who are in line as of the deadline have the right to vote.