Nov. 12, 2020JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerTens of thousands of provisional ballots in Pa. still need to be processedby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAConfusion and anxiety over mail voting caused a wave of 94,000 provisional ballots — required when a voter's eligibility is in question — to be cast on Nov. 3, likely setting a new state record.
Nov. 10, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. GOP lawmakers to probe unverified fraud claims in election they largely wonby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAWhile Pennsylvania already conducts post-election audits, Republicans say they will launch hearings to investigate what took place on Nov. 3.
Nov. 6, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PABiden may win Pennsylvania, but Democrats fell in races across the state — and the infighting has begunby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAWhile political strategists and candidates were still assessing the damage, they offered a number of theories, from ticket-splitting to coronavirus backlash to Trump outperforming expectations.
Nov. 6, 2020Robert Frank / For Spotlight PAPa. judge says in-person votes cast to fix erroneous mail ballots can be countedby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Jeremy Roebuck and Maddie Hanna of The Philadelphia InquirerThe judge said these votes should be separated, though they can still be counted if found to be eligible during the standard provisional ballot review process.
Nov. 6, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesTop Pa. Republican casting doubt on vote while conceding he doesn’t have ‘any evidence of misdoing’by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAWhile the validity of some ballots is in dispute, they would probably not be enough to affect the outcome of the presidential race. Claims of fraud lack any credible evidence.
Nov. 6, 2020JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerUpwards of 100,000 provisional ballots in Pa. could further delay a winner being namedby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAProvisional ballots are cast when a voter’s eligibility is in question. And so far, 2020 looks like it might be a record year, owing mostly to the state’s expansion of no-excuse mail voting.
Nov. 5, 2020Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAReports that vote counters in Pa.'s Allegheny County are taking the day off are misleading. Here’s the truth.by Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAA mailing company sent the wrong ballots to 29,000 voters, causing much of the current delay.
Nov. 5, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PARepublicans poised to expand Pa. Senate control, keep House majorityby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAControl of the legislature is particularly important heading into 2021, when lawmakers will draw new congressional maps and potentially shape state politics for the next decade.
Nov. 4, 2020Robert Frank / For Spotlight PATrump, Republicans sharpen legal attacks on Pa. ballots as count continuesby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe challenges center on certain mail ballots, but even if they are invalidated, it’s unclear if they would be enough to tip the balance of the contested swing state.
Nov. 4, 2020ROBERT FRANK / For Spotlight PAThe months-long political saga that guaranteed a long vote count in Pennsylvaniaby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe delay was not inevitable, but instead the product of a contentious disagreement between state politicians.
Nov. 3, 2020MATT SMITH / For Spotlight PARepublicans seek to sideline Pa. mail ballots that voters were allowed to fixby Angela Couloumbis and Jamie Martines of Spotlight PASome counties notified voters of problem ballots, or informed political parties so they could do outreach. Others did nothing.
Nov. 3, 2020ED MAHON / Spotlight PAWhen do we find out who won the 2020 election?by Spotlight PA StaffWe’re accustomed to finding out who won the election on election night. But for a number of reasons, that might not be the case in 2020.
Nov. 3, 2020ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerPa. 2020 election live updates: Joe Biden wins Pennsylvania, the presidency, AP declaresby Spotlight PA StaffThe commonwealth’s 20 Electoral College votes gave Biden the decisive edge, defeating President Donald Trump in a state that was key to Trump’s victory four years ago.
Nov. 3, 2020LOUIS B. RUEDIGER / For Spotlight PAHow Spotlight PA is covering the 2020 election in Pennsylvaniaby Christopher BaxterOur team of Spotlight PA reporters is fanned out across the state to deliver an independent, nonpartisan, and accurate report of one of our most fundamental rights and duties — casting a ballot.
Nov. 2, 2020HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerA new wave of Pa. poll workers will face a major test Tuesdayby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAHow much training poll workers have gotten this year varies from county to county, and the state’s new voting laws could pose additional challenges.
Nov. 2, 2020Margo Reed / Philadelphia InquirerThese Pa. counties won’t start counting mail ballots until Wednesday, possibly skewing early resultsby Marie Albiges for Spotlight PADespite mounting pressure from the state’s top election official, a handful of counties maintain they will not begin counting mail ballots on Election Day.
Nov. 2, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHow Allegheny County came to rely on a company that sent 29,000 ballots to the wrong votersby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAThe county’s connection with Midwest Direct came through a little-known purchasing program run by the state that allows local officials to bypass bidding.
Nov. 2, 2020HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerVIDEO: A live 2020 Election Eve reader Q&A with Spotlight PA’s panel of political expertsby Spotlight PA StaffA full recording of Spotlight PA's Capitol Live reader Q&A on the 2020 election in Pennsylvania.
Oct. 30, 2020DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia InquirerState, counties prepare to keep Pa. polling places safe amid fears of militia, hate groupsby Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA, Emily Previti of WITF, and Ramesh Santanam of PostindustrialWhile experts are optimistic there will not be widespread conflict, officials are taking extra precautions in case anyone tries to disrupt the 2020 election in Pennsylvania.
Oct. 30, 2020Margo Reed / Philadelphia InquirerHarassment, anger, and misinformation plague Pa. county officials as they struggle to keep 2020 election on trackby Marie Albiges and Tom Lisi for Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThey’re working 80-hour weeks, hiring armies of temporary workers, and renting extra space to keep them safe as they pledge to count votes by Friday after Election Day.
Oct. 29, 2020CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerWill Pa. be at the center of another Bush v. Gore? These 8 lawyers and scholars weigh in.by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAIf the election comes down to Pennsylvania, the days following Nov. 3 will likely be similar to Florida in 2000.
Oct. 28, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPotentially thousands of requested mail ballots lost in Pa. county, official saysby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PAButler County has the worst return rate for mail ballots in the state, and the U.S. Postal Service has been asked to investigate.
Oct. 28, 2020JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerU.S. Supreme Court refuses to expedite Pa. mail ballot case, but could still interveneby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAWith the prospect the high court could still hear the case or related challenges to late ballots, state election officials urged voters to hand-deliver their ballots as soon as possible.
Oct. 28, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAErie County restricts activities of openly armed residents near the polls if they aren’t votingby Tom Lisi for Spotlight PAElections officials said they took the steps to combat voter intimidation, but at least one legal expert said a challenge was almost guaranteed.
Oct. 27, 2020TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerElection 2020 in Pennsylvania: All of your voting questions, answeredby Spotlight PA StaffCan I vote in person if I requested a mail ballot? Are guns allowed at the polls? Can I take a selfie? Spotlight PA will continue to answer your questions in the week leading up to the 2020 election.
Oct. 27, 2020Joe Hermitt / PennLiveMillions pour into Pa. House, Senate races as Democrats vie for controlby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAFour of the many committees that are heavily involved in state legislative races have alone spent more than $16.9 million this year.
Oct. 27, 2020TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerWhat is ‘ballot harvesting,’ and who can and can’t deliver your mail ballot in Pa.by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAOnly a voter can mail their ballot or return it in person, unless they have a disability and officially designate someone to do it for them.
Oct. 26, 2020MONICA HERNDON / Philadelphia InquirerDemocrats have control of the Pa. state House within their reachby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Andrew Seidman of The Philadelphia InquirerPresident Donald Trump’s unpopularity in the suburbs is threatening down-ballot Republicans, and Democrats are pummeling GOP incumbents on the airwaves.
Oct. 23, 2020Margo Reed / Philadelphia InquirerCounties cannot reject mail ballots because of mismatched signatures, Pa. Supreme Court rulesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe high court’s unanimous ruling makes it far less likely there will be drawn out challenges to mail-in ballots based on signatures come Election Day.
Oct. 22, 2020Margo Reed / Philadelphia InquirerHow Amy Coney Barrett could be key to new lawsuit to block Pa.’s mail-in ballot extensionby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Marie Albiges for Spotlight PAThe latest challenge raises a new legal question: whether extending the deadline affords mail-in voters a privilege not enjoyed by those who vote in person on Nov. 3.
