Wisconsin and Pennsylvania May Take Longer to Count Ballots: Here’s Why

Both battleground states are considered key to winning the presidency.

Poll workers demonstrate how ballots are are received, processed, scanned, and securely stored on Election Day at the Philadelphia Election Warehouse during a press tour by the Philadelphia City Commissioners in Philadelphia, Pa., on Oct. 25, 2024. Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

While Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are considered key battleground states for Tuesday’s General Election, both may take longer to count mail-in ballots because of state laws.

Election officials cannot open or count mail ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day in either state. About 40 states allow for the preprocessing of mail ballots, including opening the envelope and removing the ballot in some cases.