Several states are implementing last-minute changes to their election procedures as the 2024 voting season begins.
According to the Associated Press, several states in the U.S. are changing their election laws and procedures, with updates such as new hand-counting rules and adjustments to early voting and mail-in ballots happening just weeks before the November 5 Election Day.
The modifications are taking place in key swing states and other regions, potentially affecting how Americans vote, how ballots are tallied, and how elections are administered and certified. Some states have already started sending out mail ballots, while others have begun in-person voting.
Georgia and Arizona have introduced new hand-counting requirements for ballots at polling sites on Election Day. In Georgia, a recently passed rule by the State Election Board mandates that three separate poll workers hand-count the number of ballots until all three counts match.
This new procedure in Georgia goes against the advice of the state attorney general's office, the secretary of state's office, and an association of county election officials. Critics are concerned that it could delay the reporting of election night results, potentially undermining public confidence in the process.
Similarly, Arizona has implemented a law requiring counties to hand-count ballot envelopes dropped off at polling centers on Election Day before tabulation. This new step resulted in a roughly 30-minute delay in reporting Maricopa County's results during the July primary.
Several states have made adjustments to their early voting and mail-in ballot procedures. In Wisconsin, ballot drop boxes have been made legal again following a state Supreme Court decision, although their use remains voluntary.
Ohio has issued a directive stating that only a voter can drop their personal ballot in a drop box, with anyone assisting required to return the ballot inside the county board office and complete an attestation form.
In Pennsylvania, a court battle is pending regarding whether counties must count provisional ballots cast by voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected for minor errors.
North Carolina has approved the use of digital identifications for students and staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for voting purposes. This marks the first such digital ID approved by the state board of elections under the recently implemented photo voter ID law. Megan Bellamy, vice president of law and policy for the Voting Rights Lab, commented on the impact of these changes:
Last-minute changes to election rules — whether from a state legislature, an election authority or a court — can lead to confusion for voters and election officials. Election season is underway. Lawmakers, administrative bodies and courts must recognize that.
Some states have also modified their post-election procedures. Georgia has passed new rules related to the certification of vote results, allowing for a "reasonable inquiry" before county election officials certify results and permitting county election officials to examine all election-related documentation.
New Hampshire has established postelection audits, allowing the secretary of state's office to check that electronic vote-counting equipment functioned properly. The first audit under this new law was conducted after the state's September 10 primary and was deemed successful.
These last-minute changes to election rules are occurring across various states, affecting voting procedures, ballot counting, and result certification. The modifications range from new hand-counting requirements in Georgia and Arizona to adjustments in early voting and mail-in ballot processes in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Some states have also updated voter identification rules and post-election procedures. These changes could potentially impact how Americans vote and how election results are tallied and certified in the upcoming November 5 election.
