The Pennsylvania Department of State on Tuesday warned voters the supplied envelope to return their mail-in ballots may arrive sealed from the humidity affecting much of the commonwealth.
In a statement posted to social media, the department confirmed reports that citizens have received mail-in ballots with sealed return envelopes.
“Due to the humidity much of PA is currently experiencing, some voters are finding that their mail-in ballots have the return envelope already sealed,” wrote the Pennsylvania Department of State in a post to the social media platform X.
The agency advised Pennsylvanians who receive a sealed envelope to contact their local county election office. If someone receives “a sealed secrecy or return envelope, please contact your county election office for their recommended next steps.”
Due to the humidity much of PA is currently experiencing, some voters are finding that their mail-in ballots have the return envelope already sealed. If you receive a sealed secrecy or return envelope, please contact your county election office for their recommended next steps.…
— PA Department of State (@PAStateDept) October 1, 2024
The Pennsylvania Department of State did not immediately return a press inquiry from The Pennsylvania Daily Star asking what guidance is being provided to county election officials and whether a humidity-sealed ballot could be reused.
Republicans recently questioned the agency after it warned in August that election results may not be available on Election Day.
The agency additionally said in a post to X that election results could change multiple times after votes are in before a winner is officially announced and claimed that neither would amount to “evidence that an election is ‘rigged.'”
In a section of its website labeled “Fact-Checking Election Claims,” the organization states, “Mail ballot fraud has been proven to be exceptionally rare. Claims of systemic voter fraud are devoid of any supporting evidence and have consistently been rejected by judges, government agencies, and election experts across the political spectrum.”
Pennsylvanians won’t always know the final results of all races on election night. Any changes in results that occur as counties continue to count ballots are not evidence that an election is “rigged.” See the full explanation at https://t.co/viVtWSw4HL. pic.twitter.com/gbaDh8lJpX
— PA Department of State (@PAStateDept) August 8, 2024
The statement and website led U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick to call for a “huge voter turnout” and investments into election integrity to give voters confidence on Election Day.
McCormick called for “huge efforts to have observers and oversee ballots, oversee elections, make sure we have great lawyers in place” but said it would ultimately be up to Republicans ” to have huge voter turnouts so we win with such a margin that it’s without question,” at least until Republicans in Congress and former President Donald Trump can change the law next year.
“Finally, we need voter I.D., which I know President Trump has supported and I’ll support as a senator,” McCormick said in August. “That’s the only way we’re going to ensure we have completely fair elections.”
In addition to mail-in voting, some Pennsylvania counties began early voting this week. Information about early voting times and locations is available on individual county websites.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Pennsylvania Absentee Ballot” by i_am_curiouskiwi. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
