Now is time to fix vote-by-mail

Many county offices were overwhelmed by both the number of requests and the time needed to count them. Some took more than a week to complete the counting process. Some voters received the wrong ballot; others never received one at all, despite completing the application process. Multiple voting rights groups in the state have called on Pennsylvania to address these concerns before the presidential election in November.

President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is suing Pennsylvania to force changes in how the state collects and counts mail-in ballots. The lawsuit raises some concerns worthy of review, but the lawsuit should not intimidate officials against moving forward with an even more robust mail-in voting process.

The Trump campaign maintains that mail-in voting procedures were accompanied by illegal changes, including allowing voters to drop off completed ballots at collection sites outside of county elections offices such as community college campuses, fairgrounds, retirement homes and parks.

This is a more than fair point. We cannot go to such lengths to make voting “convenient” that we compromise the franchise.

The campaign is also demanding security envelopes for ballots and poll watchers who monitor collection sites.

Democratic leaders view the lawsuit as a strategy to further paint mail-in voting as inherently fraudulent, but that doesn’t address the substantive problems that have become evident.

The issues raised in the lawsuit should be reviewed to ensure the integrity of the election, but state officials should also make use of the time before the November presidential election to better prepare for what will likely be a huge number of requests for mail-in ballots.

The primary election was the first in which voters could opt for a mail-in ballot with no restrictions, and the option proved extremely popular. Out of the 2.8 million votes cast, more than 1.4 million came by way of mail-in ballots.

Still, there were issues. Many county offices were overwhelmed by both the number of requests and the time needed to count them. Some took more than a week to complete the counting process. Some voters received the wrong ballot; others never received one at all, despite completing the application process.

Multiple voting rights groups in the state have called on Pennsylvania to address these concerns before the presidential election in November.

Groups supporting mail-in voting, like Common Cause and Make the Road PA, are pushing for the mailing of a ballot to every registered voter, rather than making them apply for one.

Advocates are also calling for mail-in ballots to be counted as they are sent in, rather than forcing officials to wait until Election Day to begin the count.

Such practices are already the norm in several other states. Colorado, which recently set a record for primary turnout in its state, employs a “universal” vote-by-mail system, where all registered voters receive a ballot.

Voters can mail their ballots in or drop them off at designated voting centers, and the majority choose to do so instead of voting in person. Ballots are counted as they are received.

Pennsylvania needs to catch up. It’s evident that mail-in ballots will be a popular and necessary option for state voters this fall. Lawmakers must listen to their constituents and learn from best practices of other states.