Pennsylvania 2024: Vote Counting and Election Certification Processes

This report provides a detailed look at the vote counting and certification processes that govern Pennsylvania elections. We provide research on the officials administering elections, as well as the potential vulnerabilities that could pose a risk to the counting and certification process. 

This report documents the election administration offices and personnel involved in the vote counting and certification process, detailing their role and responsibilities. We also provide in-depth information about each step involved in the counting and certification process.

In analyzing these processes, practices, and personnel, our goal is to build confidence in our election system — in the rules and quality assurance steps in place as well as the dedicated administrators who support these processes. We also want to bring to light potential vulnerabilities in the system in order to allow pro-democracy advocates and partners to better monitor our elections, target corrective action, and, in turn, protect the integrity of our elections.

Highlights of this report:

• A timeline for the ongoing and overlapping processes for vote counting and certification, with different view options (calendar, timeline, or chart).

• An extensive research library looking at election personnel to determine if they pose a threat to election administration, with supporting evidence. 

• An overview of anti-democracy trends and the potential impact on Pennsylvania elections.

For a high-level summary of this report, please see our one pager, Pennsylvania: State Election Administration — Key Findings 2024.