‘Take a deep breath,’ Wolf says as Pa. counts ballots

HARRISBURG — One hour after polls closed on Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar provided an update on how Election Day went across the commonwealth. 

Election Day “went remarkably well,” Boockvar said, adding that no widespread voting issues were reported to the Department. 

Although no widespread issues hindered voting, Boockvar said DOS saw “run of the mill” issues such as long lines at polling stations. 

Boockvar said the Department of State also received more than 5,000 calls to its election hotline. Most of the reports, she noted, were about long lines, late poll openings and instances of voter intimidation. 

On the latter, Boockvar said that local officials were able to resolve the issues. She added that there were no reports of violence at any of the state’s 9,235 polling precincts. 

Boockvar said that more than 253,000 mail-in ballots were returned by voters – an 83 percent return rate. 

Wolf encouraged Pennsylvanians to be patient, adding that election results may not come in Tuesday night. 

“Counting that tremendous number of ballots, again, will take longer than we’re used to,” Wolf said. “But the extra time is just there because we want to make sure that our election system is working and that each and every vote is counted.”

“Take a deep breath,” he said, adding that Pennsylvania will have a fair election. 

“And make no mistake, Wolf said. “We’re going to stand up, as we always have, to anybody who wants to silence the voices of Pennsylvanians who have voted.”

While it hasn’t been needed thus far, Wolf said the state is prepared should unrest follow the election results. 

Wolf and Boockvar will provide another update at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.