Updated 6:45 p.m. Nov. 6.
Centre County on Wednesday rescanned thousands of mail-in ballots that could not be added to its election results overnight because of a software issue that delayed its reporting of vote tallies.
Elections staff made “several attempts throughout the night to transfer scanned mail-in ballot data into the county’s election software,” but determined on Wednesday morning that about 13,401 of those ballots would need to be rescanned, according to a statement from the county.
Rescanning started Wednesday morning at the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte, where watchers from both parties will be present for the scanning, according to the statement.
All of the rescanned ballots have been added to the county’s unofficial results as of 5:15 p.m. Wednesday. An initial batch of about 8,200 were reported at 2 p.m. and the remainder three hours later.
The county first reported at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday that data was being successfully exported from mail ballot scanners, but was not being recognized by elections software when uploaded. Elections staff were “working with the equipment vendor to adjust configurations to make the two systems—the mail-in ballot scanner and the elections software where data are uploaded—compatible with one another,” the county wrote in a statement at the time.
Even with those mail ballots now included, there are still ballots left to be counted, as is typical of every election. Starting at noon Thursday and continuing at 10 a.m. Friday, the Board of Elections will meet to canvass mail-in ballots that were segregated to review possible deficiencies as well as military/overseas and provisional ballots.
Those meetings will be livestreamed on C-NET’s YouTube channel: Nov. 7 meeting | Nov. 8 meeting.
Unofficial results, which will include Election Day, mail, provisional and military/overseas ballots, will be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of State by 5 p.m. on Nov. 12. Final certified results are not due until Nov. 25 to account for uniformed military and overseas voters whose mail ballots were postmarked by Nov. 4.
Wednesday’s delay in reporting mail ballot results effectively only held up the call on one state House race, but did change the top vote-getters in the county for President and U.S. Senate.
Republican Donald Trump, who has already been declared winner of Pennsylvania and the presidency, was leading Democrat Kamala Harris in Centre County by about 2,700 votes on Wednesday morning, but Harris now has a lead here of 1,776 votes. Similarly, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick led Democratic incumbent Bob Casey by about 2,500 votes in Centre County on Wednesday morning, but Casey now holds a 1,855-vote edge.
Soon after the mail ballot data began to roll in on, the Associated Press called the lone remaining undecided legislative race in the county.
Incumbent state Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, won a second term representing the 82nd district against Benner Township Republican challenger Therese Hollen by a margin of 52.2% (14,533 votes) to 47.8% (13,307) with 99% of votes counted. The AP called the race at 3:17 p.m.
Takac had been leading before the race was called but held off on declaring victory to allow the ballots to be scanned and reported.
“I want to thank our Centre County Commissioners, staff, and every person who has dedicated countless hours both inside the polls and out to ensure that we have a free and fair election, and that every person’s vote is counted and voice is heard,” Takac said in a statement before the mail ballot additions on Wednesday. “Their diligence and dedication to the democratic process is immensely appreciated.”
In the 77th district for incumbent state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, defeated Ferguson Township Republican Marie Librizzi 60.8% (17,433) to 31.2% (11,195). The AP called the race on Wednesday morning. Incumbent state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, was unopposed for Centre County’s other state House district, the 171st.
For the state Senate, incumbent state Sen. Cris Dush, R-Pine Creek Township, easily won reelection in the 25th district against Clinton County Democrat William McGill, and incumbent state Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Richland Township, was unopposed in the 35th district.
