Pre-Canvassing / Vote-by-Mail Ballot Processing Room

The Centre County Board of Elections will begin the processing/pre-canvassing of absentee and mail-in ballots at 7:00 AM on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Yes. The Centre County Board of Commissioners has sponsored the C-NET livestreaming via YouTube of the Vote-by-Mail Processing Room. Beginning on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 7:00 AM, three C-NET cameras will livestream from the Penn Stater and the Centre County EOC. There will be three videos: two from the Penn Stater and one from the EOC. The livestreaming will continue until all ballots are cast.

Stream #1 Centre County EOC:

Stream #2 (Penn Stater View 1):

Stream #3 (Penn Stater View 2):

Yes. Each political party and candidate can have one person in the pre-canvassing room to observe the processing. Authorized representatives/watchers must produce an embossed poll watchers certificate to gain access to the room. Watcher must wear a face covering while attending the pre-canvassing. For more information regarding poll watchers and authorized representatives refer to the Pennsylvania Department of State’s updated guidance released on October 28. 2020.

No. As stated in the Pennsylvania Department of States’ Guidance Concerning Poll Watchers and Authorized Representatives, there are no challenges permitted during the pre-canvass or canvass of mail-in and absentee ballots, by authorized representatives or anyone else.  The only permissible challenges to absentee and mail-in voting must have been filed prior to 5:00 pm, the Friday prior to the election, and only on good faith grounds that the applicant was not a qualified elector. No other challenges to mail-in or absentee ballots are permitted.

The Centre County Board of Elections has recruited over 100 registered voters to work in the Vote-by-Mail Ballot Processing Room.

The Centre County Board of Elections has procured the following:

• Four (4) Martin Yale 400 Joggers
• Two (2) Opex Omation 306S
• Two (2) Opex Envelope Openers
• Two (2) ES&S DS450s

Results from the first tranche of ballots will be available immediately after polls close at 8:00 PM. Full results from the additional tranches are anticipated to be available by 8:00 PM on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Results from absentee and mail-in voting and Election Day in-person voting will be available here.

Centre County will once again be holding VBM ballot canvassing at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. We will be upstairs in a large conference room. Please find the map attached for your convenience. We will also conduct ballot counting in the Centre County EOC for any ballots received on Election Day.

Below is a link to a sign-up page that outlines the various VBM room positions (work tasks), time slots, as well as a brief explanation of each task and level of training required. Some tasks require minimal instruction on how to perform the work, while a couple positions are more technical in nature and will involve a little more training. If you have worked in the VBM room before, the process will remain very similar for this Election.

Please note that with the passing of Act 88 all ballots must be pre-canvassed until all ballots received by 8 pm Tuesday are counted. Depending on how many VBM ballots are received and our efficiency in processing them the time for each job may be shortened or lengthened.  

Information on training and additional details about the VBM Room processing will be forthcoming as we move closer to the election. In the meantime, please click the link below to sign up for any timeslots/positions that you are interested in working this election.

On behalf of Centre County Elections and the Board of Commissioners, thank you in advance for your interest in helping Centre County hold a successful Election and Vote-By-Mail canvassing process.

Click the following link to view the sign-up page:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0944ADA729AAF8C43-44838564-november

Contact us.