LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Ballots are pouring into drop boxes at Penn Place in the city of Wilkes-Barre, as people are already casting their ballots. With less than two weeks until Election Day, all eyes are on Pennsylvania and Luzerne County.
"Luzerne County is the only county to do Obama/Obama, Trump/Trump. So, as a result a lot of people are paying attention, a lot of money is being spent because we are a real battle ground county, in the middle of a battleground district, in a battleground state," says Benjamin Toll, an associate professor of political science at Wilkes University.
A big turnout at the polls won't come as a big surprise, as Luzerne County saw a large change in voter registration this election cycle. The county officially flipping red, in what's been a long-standing Democratic stronghold.
"This trend has been happening and a lot of it has to do with the fact that the Democratic and Republican party are changing what they stand for, and voters are picking up on that. That Republicans are different than they used to be 20 years ago, the Democrats are different than they used to be 20 years ago," said Toll.
With a strong turnout expected for this election, counting all those ballots is no easy feat. However, a state Election Integrity Grant may help in that process. Nearly every county in Pennsylvania was awarded money based on its size and number of registered voters. Luzerne County was given $1.1 million.
The grants can be used for a limited number of things such as printing ballots, training poll workers, and even machines to help process those mail in ballots. Pennsylvania is one of seven states that does not allow election workers to begin processing absentee or mail ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day.
Luzerne County's Agilis Ballot Sorting System was purchased using grant money back in 2022. November's election is the first time it'll be used in a presidential race.
"Instead of having individuals open envelopes, we have a machine that does that. It takes a photograph of the envelope so we have a record," explains County Manager Romilda Crocamo.
The money will also go toward paying workers to count ballots around the clock, so they're not stopping like in years past.
"We're going to process all the ballots on election night, even if we have to stay here until three in the morning or midnight or one. We will stay. Everybody knows we have to wait for the ballots to come up from the southern part of the county," added Crocamo.
The changes for this election means the nation could see election results in Pennsylvania a little bit quicker than years past.
"Every state does it. They will deliver a vote in this 'dump' as we phrase it- lots of different votes that are counted, and we will release them all at the same time. It could come at 3 o'clock, who knows when it'll come, but the goal is that it'll be quicker than what it was in 2020," said Toll.
Pennsylvania has a number of frequently asked questions regarding Pennsylvania on its website. Election day is Tuesday, November 5th.