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Canvassing Process


The canvassing process and the results posted on this website


Pennsylvania voters have more ways than ever to cast their vote. A voter can cast a mail-in ballot, an absentee ballot, or vote in person on Election Day at their polling place. The word “canvass” is an election term that means the counting, computing and tallying of the votes reflected on the ballots. Because of the different ways a voter may cast their vote the time it takes to canvass the ballots varies. For example, the votes cast on election day at a polling place and scanned at the polling place will be known fairly quickly election night. The amount of time it will take to canvass the mail-in and absentee ballots will depend on how many ballots are returned to the County. These ballots will be begin to be opened on Election Day and all ballots timely received prior to 8:00PM will be opened and posted until completed. The first results will be posted to the website beginning at 8:30 PM and updates will be posted every half hour. Election day results will be included in these updates as they are available. Military voters have additional days after election day to return their ballots and those totals will be added when final. Lastly, provisional ballots processed on election day at the polls require individual attention and will not be included in the results until a thorough review has been completed. This website will periodically display unofficial results as the canvassing progresses. The reader is cautioned the numbers will fluctuate until all canvassing and legal challenges, if any, are completed and the final results are certified by the Dauphin County Board of Elections.