Dozens of Pennsylvania voters receive duplicate mail ballots.

Several counties in Pennsylvania have recently encountered an issue involving the inadvertent issuance of duplicate mail ballots, creating concern among election officials and voters alike. The mistaken ballots were distributed to a limited number of voters over the past few weeks, prompting a thorough review by state and county officials.

The precise reasons for this error remain unclear, as explanations have varied between state and local officials. However, both parties have emphasized that the situation would not permit any individual to cast more than one vote. According to official statements, approximately 68 potential duplicate mail ballots were erroneously issued across multiple counties.

In Luzerne County, located in northeast Pennsylvania, the problem was notably acute, with 31 voters receiving duplicate mail ballots. Initially, state officials suggested this issue was confined to Luzerne County, but further inquiries revealed that other counties, including Dauphin, Montgomery, and Carbon, also experienced similar complications, albeit potentially stemming from different causes. Election directors in these counties confirmed the occurrence of duplicate ballots, resulting from various operational issues within the state’s election management system known as SURE.

Emily Cook, the elections director in Luzerne County, noted that an unidentified issue with the SURE system may have triggered the duplication. In contrast, Jonathan Marks, deputy secretary of the commonwealth, indicated that user errors might have also contributed, occurring as officials attempted to remedy issues with initial ballots. He acknowledged the system’s limits, asserting that addressing one complication could inadvertently lead to another.

The Department of State clarified that duplicate labels could arise for legitimate reasons, such as damage to original labels, and reiterated that their existence does not inherently signify an error. Both state and county officials reassured the public that all duplicate ballots have been cancelled and cannot be cast. Each mail ballot return envelope contains a unique barcode linked to the voter. If a ballot associated with a duplicate barcode were to be scanned, the system would automatically reject it.

In light of the Luzerne County situation, state officials conducted an audit of the SURE system, uncovering 37 additional potential duplicates across seven other counties. In Dauphin County, which encompasses Harrisburg, elections director Chris Spackman reported that a review revealed one duplicate ballot sent to a voter. Correspondence from a state contractor indicated that this error originated at their end, yet details on the malfunction remained unspecified.

As the investigation continues, officials from Montgomery and Carbon counties disclosed that they too are addressing similar problems with mail ballots, including confirmations of additional duplicate ballots issued to voters. The election integrity issue remains a pressing concern, underscoring the need for improvements in the state’s election management practices.

The state has affirmed that the SURE system is designed with safeguards to prevent the recording of more than one ballot per voter during the same election. However, criticism has emerged regarding the effectiveness of the system, prompting calls for timely upgrades to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

In summary, while the errors involving duplicate mail ballots have been acknowledged, election officials continue to emphasize that the safeguards in place will assure voter integrity throughout the election process.