8 Key Benchmarks to Monitor in Pennsylvania Vote Counting, Certification Process and Guard Against Election Subversion
Informing Democracy issues new guide detailing each step of Pennsylvania’s vote counting, and certification processes to help reporters, and pro-democracy allies safeguard against election subversion
Group Pinpoints 8 Crucial Benchmarks To Watch After Polls Close To Identify Potential Breakdowns In The System
Guide Identifies Pennsylvania State and Local Official Responsible For Each Step Of the Process To Ensure Accountability
Informing Democracy Will Run Rapid Response Identifying Real-Time Problems In Pennsylvania After Polls Close
Background Briefings Available For Reporters Upon Request
Full Guide Can Be Found Here
Today, Informing Democracy, a new non-profit organization made up of election professionals, researchers, and lawyers, released a detailed report that analyzes the process, practice, and personnel involved in Pennsylvania’s vote counting and election certification to help reporters and watchdogs safeguard against any attempts at election subversion.
The report outlines Pennsylvania’s multi-step process to count votes and certify results, as well as the specific officials who are responsible for each step. Importantly, the group identified eight key benchmarks in the process the days and weeks after polls close that watchers should pay close attention to in order to check that there aren’t any breakdowns in the system perpetrated by those attempting to subvert the election. Further, it indicates each state and local official with responsibility for any step in which a breakdown occurs.
The goal of the report is to 1) to build confidence in the vote counting and election certification processes by showing, in detail, the systems, checks, and quality assurance steps in place; and 2) to allow pro-democracy partners and reporters to better monitor our elections, target corrective action, and, in turn, protect the integrity of our elections from potential vulnerabilities.
“We undertook this project in response to the growing movement to subvert the outcome of free and fair elections, and the known and documented support from some elected and appointed officials in that effort,” says the report. “While anti-democratic forces once focused most of their attention on compromising access to voting, they have taken new aim at the vote counting and election certification processes. Although we have not seen election results overturned as a result, this movement is gaining momentum, and the threat is real.”
Informing Democracy will be doing rapid response beginning on Election Day identifying real-time problems before and after the vote counting and election certification processes get underway.
The full guide can be found here.
Eight Key Benchmarks To Watch For After The Polls Close
The following are eight key and observable steps in the exhaustive step-by-step processes of vote counting and election certification in Pennsylvania and will help outside watchers track if the process is progressing smoothly, or if problems are impeding these essential activities.
These benchmark steps encompass the vote tabulation, internal error checking, canvassing, and certification decision points that could present evidence of any subversion efforts.
Completion of Count. Look for the unofficial results starting at 8pm on Election Night and continuing as they are released. County Boards should receive results no later than 2 am after the Election and are required to make them available to the public. The Secretary of the Commonwealth should get the unofficial results by 3 am.
Absentee Canvass. In all but four counties (Bradford, Crawford, Montour, and Susquehanna) the absentee pre-canvass will start at 7am. The other counties have until three days later to start their canvass. Look for intermittent results and reports from elections offices after polls close and in the days after.
Counting of Provisional Ballots. Look for announcements from election offices typically a few days after Election Day, up to a week after.
County Canvass. Look for information on a public meeting held by 9am on the 3rd day following Election Day.
State Canvass. Look for information on a public meeting after counties send their results, which are required no later than 5 PM Tuesday after Election Day.
Automatic Recounts. Automatic recounts (if the margin is half a percent or less) must be called for no later than 5 pm on the 2nd Thursday following the election, and must give 24-hour notice to every candidate and party chair affected by recount. A candidate can waive their right to this automatic recount until that Wednesday at 12pm.
Recounts By Petition. The petition must be filed within 5 days of the canvassing returns, and recount must happen within 20 days of the election for machine recanvassing, or four months for paper ballot recanvassing.
Election Certification. This occurs five days after the unofficial returns are submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth or 5 days after appeals, recount, or recanvass.