PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania Representative is looking to extend the deadline for mail-in ballots.
A new policy was enacted by the United States Postal Service, which now has postmarks applied at regional sorting facilities instead of at the local post office receiving the mail. Because of this, Rep. Chris Pielli argued in his newest memo that the policy has the potential to create significant delays for mail-in and absentee ballots.
Furthermore, ballots cast by mail may not be received by county election offices by the time the polls close on Election Day, even if they were mailed several days in advance.
Specifically in Pennsylvania, this creates a risk, given that state law provides that mail-in and absentee ballots can only be counted if they are received by 8 p.m. on the day of the election.
To combat this, Pielli’s legislation would extend the date by which county election offices can accept mail-in ballots. The bill would allow mail-in and absentee ballots to be counted if they are received up to seven days after the election, which mirrors the current deadline for military and overseas ballots.
Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters.
“By aligning the deadline for all voters with the existing standard for military and overseas ballots, we create a simple, uniform window that guarantees every timely cast vote is actually counted,” Pielli wrote. “Voting is the foundation of our democratic society.”
To apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot, visit the Pennsylvania Government website.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ – www.wtaj.com.