Record-breaking Voter Turnout in Franklin County

The 20,624 absentee and mail-in ballots counted in Franklin County on Wednesday.

The Franklin County Board of Elections would like to express sincere appreciation to all those involved in our county’s successful election on Tuesday.  

“We are grateful for our county’s dedicated poll workers, 400+ polling place volunteers, County staff, and especially our voters who turned out in record numbers. Accuracy is our priority. We thank everyone for their understanding as we work through our election process to ensure that every vote is counted,” said Dave Keller, Chairman of the Franklin County Election Board.

Here is a look at how Tuesday’s election compares to the 2016 Presidential Election:

*Ballots received after Tuesday but postmarked by November 3rd and received by 5pm on November 6th, military absentee ballots and provisional ballots are not included in this total.

Franklin County followed a previously published timeline and began pre-canvassing (preparation of the ballots) on Tuesday morning using volunteers from various County departments to open the envelopes and prepare the ballots for counting.  The pre-canvass was completed around noon on Wednesday.

The official canvass (counting of the ballots) began at 8:30 am on Wednesday morning and was completed by the end of the day.  The County ran 20,624 absentee and mail-in ballots through a high speed central scanner and added these results to the 59,442 ballots cast in-person at the polls. Authorized representatives from local Republican and Democrat parties were present for the entire pre-canvass and canvass. 

Results for the 2020 Election, including the summary and precinct reports, may be viewed on the County’s website at www.franklincountypa.gov.  Results showing the grand totals broken down by in-person voting, mail-in ballot results and provisional ballot results may be viewed here:  https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/.

The County Election Board would like to remind voters that the PA Voter Services website is for those voters who requested an absentee or mail-in ballot and want to check the status of their ballot.  Voters who chose to vote in-person at their polling place will not be able to use this tool since it is only for those voting by mail.  In-person voters scanned their ballot into the precinct scanner at their polling place and received the message “Thank you for voting.  Your ballot has been counted.” This message is the voter’s verification that their ballot was indeed counted and added to the results for their particular precinct.  

On Friday, November 6th, the County Election Board will be counting the mail-in and absentee ballots received after Election Day but postmarked by November 3rd and received prior to 5:00 pm on Friday, November 6th.  The Election Board will also be processing the 3,287 write-ins received on Tuesday -- including ones for “Mud puddle”, “Pickle” and “Pudgy (My dog).”

Next Tuesday, November 10th, the County Election Board will be counting military absentee ballots as well as hundreds of  provisional ballots.  

We anticipate all votes to be counted by close of business on November 10th.

Franklin County Election Board observes absentee and mail-in ballot canvassing (counting) on Wednesday morning.

Pre-canvassed absentee and mail-in ballots ready for canvassing in locked totes.

County staff continues the pre-canvass on Wednesday morning after being sworn in.

Pre-canvassing began Tuesday morning with observers from the local Republican and Democratic parties present.

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