Are mail-in ballots not counted until day of election?

[babylonsister]

Last edited Sun Nov 6, 2022, 02:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Anyone know? I show my ballot was received 24 October, but as of this morning, 6 November, it has not been counted. Should I be worried or is this standard? Thanks for any insight.

Edit to add...I'm none the wiser...I guess I can assume it's been counted and accepted because I haven't heard otherwise.

https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-16-when-absentee-mail-ballot-processing-and-counting-can-begin.aspx

Processing

“Processing” means different things in different states, but typically the first step is to compare the signature on the outside of the return envelope with the voter’s signature on record to ensure a match.

In some states, once the signature is verified the envelope can be opened and the ballot prepared for tabulation by removing it from the envelope, flattening it and stacking it with other ballots. Some states may allow ballots to be run through the scanner, as well, but without hitting the “tally” button to actually obtain results.

Thirty-eight states and the Virgin Islands permit election officials to begin processing absentee/mail ballots prior to the election.

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Nine states and Washington, D.C., permit election officials to begin processing absentee/mail ballots on Election Day, but prior to the closing of the polls.

Alabama, District of Columbia, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Maryland does not permit the processing of absentee/mail ballots until 10 a.m. on Thursday after an election, based on state regulation.

And in two states and Puerto Rico, the day on which processing may begin is not specified:

Connecticut allows processing to begin at the discretion of the local registrar of voters.
Ohio allows processing to begin before counting at a time determined by the board of elections.
Puerto Rico does not specify.

[Mister Ed]

1. I believe it varies by state.

In many states, the mail-in and early ballots are not counted until election day, and in some states they are not counted until after polls close. Here in Minnesota, they begin to be tallied before election day.

[lamp_shade]

2. Mine was received October 5th and HAS been counted (Hillsborough Co)

[MySideOfTown]

3. Polk Co.

Lori Edwards. our elected democrat county election admin mailed it to me and I rec'd it. I VOTED Signed it, dated it and mailed it back postage paid. I checked on the election website a few days later and was confirmed it had been received and counted. Easy to vote and verify in this county in Florida.

[pnwmom]

4. Here in WA we can go to the County's elections office and find out

if our ballot has been received, signature matched, and counted.

We can follow along as it goes through the system -- and ours have been counted already.

[gab13by13]

5. Pa. they are counted last.

Pa. will not be fully counted for days.

[Freddie]

7. Yup, the R's refuse to change it

So they can scream “fraud!” when the vote counts change overnight. They’ll do it again this week.

[teach1st]

6. From Ballotpedia re Florida ballot counting

Counting ballots

Officials in Florida began counting absentee/mail-in ballots on October 12, 2020. As of November 2020, Florida law included the following provision for counting absentee/mail-in ballots:

“ (2)(a)?The county canvassing board may begin the canvassing of vote-by-mail ballots at 7 a.m. on the 22nd day before the election, but not later than noon on the day following the election. In addition, for any county using electronic tabulating equipment, the processing of vote-by-mail ballots through such tabulating equipment may begin at 7 a.m. on the 22nd day before the election. However, notwithstanding any such authorization to begin canvassing or otherwise processing vote-by-mail ballots early, no result shall be released until after the closing of the polls in that county on election day. Any supervisor, deputy supervisor, canvassing board member, election board member, or election employee who releases the results of a canvassing or processing of vote-by-mail ballots prior to the closing of the polls in that county on election day commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.[2]

https://ballotpedia.org/Processing,_counting,_and_challenging_absentee/mail-in_ballots_in_Florida,_2020

[mitch96]

8. Pinellas county, rec'd and counted in 2 days... nt

[DelMar dem]

9. New ruling in Maryland

In late September, Judge James A. Bonifant ruled in response to a petition that Maryland's mail-in ballots could be counted starting in October. He also said that his ruling was not unconstitutional, as argued by Republican Gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox.

I've been notified that my ballot has been received, but have not yet heard that it's been counted. Its good to know that now my vote will be included in actual election day results.