It’s no secret that Pennsylvania counties are frustrated by election procedures that are slowing down the process to get election results out in a timely manner.

On Thursday, Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is working to urge legislators to make changes to pre-canvassing, as well as extending mail-in ballot application deadlines.

“It’s time sensitive,” he said of CCAP’s request to the state.

“It’s extremely important that we get the two issues passed now before the November election,” Nothstein added. “We need it passed by September when we have to start mailing out absentee and mail-in ballots. We’re asking for the simple fix to remove the stress and strain off our election offices.”

The mail-in ballot application deadline in Pennsylvania is currently seven days before the election. CCAP would like that moved back to 15 days.

According to a press release sent out by CCAP, the organization is urging the General Assembly to advance the bill that would make these changes.

“It is time to help counties with what they need, right here and right now, to run the smooth and successful elections that our voters expect,” said CCAP president and Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel. “We have outlined two very simple solutions that would, as our counties have said, address the majority of challenges we have faced in implementing mail-in ballots, and we need the state and the General Assembly to step up to help counties, and to help our voters.”

To date, there has been no movement by the legislature on the requests; and Nothstein pointed out that the summer recess is rapidly approaching so movement by the state needs to happen now if the change can be implemented for November.

“Counties’ experiences have clearly demonstrated that if we could begin the pre-canvassing process up to three weeks in advance, we would be able to use our resources more effectively and efficiently to administer both the mail-in and in-person election,” said Sherene Hess, CCAP Elections Reform Committee chair and Indiana County commissioner.

“We would know of any issues with mail-in ballots prior to Election Day, could focus our attention on running a successful in-person election on Election Day, and be more likely to deliver timely results on election night.

“When the current law says voters can apply up to seven days prior to an election, we are telling voters that if they follow the law, the process will work as advertised and they can be assured their vote will be able to be counted,” Hess added.

“Unfortunately, this is a promise we cannot guarantee we can keep to our voters, instead causing anxiety for voters who often end up coming to the polling place anyway to spoil their mail-in ballot or to vote by provisional ballot.”