Politics & Government

PA Election Live Updates: USPS To Sweep Facilities For Ballots

It's Election Day in Pennsylvania. Follow along with our live updates:

Voters wait to cast their ballots at Rodef Shalom Synagogue on November 3, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Voters wait to cast their ballots at Rodef Shalom Synagogue on November 3, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Last updated at 6:50 p.m.

It's Election Day in Pennsylvania. Follow along with our live updates:

Attorney General Josh Shapiro confirmed his office is aware of a Lycoming County Constable who was photographed blocking the entrance to a polling place. "Thankfully, we were able to confirm this issue was resolved locally hours ago and Pennsylvanians have been able to safely vote," Shapiro tweeted.

Find out what's happening in Across Pennsylvaniafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

A federal judge has ordered that none of the defective ballots in Montgomery County be counted until a hearing is held is U.S. District Court on Wednesday morning. MORE.

Some Montgomery County voters encountered 80 minute wait times to vote and some confusing signage at polling locations. "I waited for 20 minutes until an official came by announcing sector 1-3 was to go to the front of the line because they were a separate line," one voter said. "From there I waited about 20 more minutes. I had let two people in front of me, because they were in the wrong line." MORE.

Find out what's happening in Across Pennsylvaniafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Republican candidate for U.S. Congress Kathy Barnette is suing Montgomery County for allegedly alerting voters of ballot errors, allowing them to fix issues and return them. MORE.

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Postal Service to sweep Pennsylvania facilities for any remaining mail-in ballots and to prioritize their delivery. Judge Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia ordered the Postal Service to conduct the sweep in a number of states by 3 p.m. ET, multiple news outlets reported. The ruling impacts USPS's Central Pennsylvania and Philadelphia districts. MORE.

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Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has arrived in Philadelphia, where he will deliver a final pitch to voters. You can watch his remarks here.

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Reports of long lines and high turnout continue to come in more than two hours after polling places opened at 7 a.m. Video captured from a polling place at Central Bucks South high school in Warrington, Bucks County shows a long line that snakes around the building.

Images also show long lines at the Sol Feinstone Elementary School polling place in Upper Makefield Township, where Donald Trump made a campaign appearance Saturday.

Police in Solebury Township report polling locations are busy just before 9:30 a.m. They recommend residents dress for the weather, "feel free to bring a folding chair, snacks and hot coffee, tea, etc."

Buckingham Township police said shortly before noon that lines have formed there as well. "Long lines have been reported with people generally well mannered. Social distancing and masks are the norm. Bring your patience and remember most people working the polling places are volunteers, so be nice. Please try to park in designated areas. There have been reports of parking violations that block business operations," Buckingham police said.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden has arrived in Scranton, at the Carpenters Local Union Hall 445.

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Gov. Tom Wolf issued a video Tuesday morning, reminding residents to wear a mask if they plan to vote in-person. He also reminded residents who may still have a mail-in ballot in their possession to place it in a drop box by 8 p.m.

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Polling places opened at 7 a.m. and already lines have formed. Images on social media show long lines at polling places across Pennsylvania, including in Bucks County, Delaware County, Bethlehem Township, and Easton.

Former Bucks County Congressman Patrick Murphy tweeted "turnout is off the hook" in Bucks County. He reported long lines in Bristol as well as no parking left near a Langhorne polling place.

Police in Warwick, Bucks County reported all five of the local polling places were crowded but parking remained available.

In Philadelphia, videos show long lines an hour after polls first opened:

Lines at a polling place in Fishtown were about an hour long when polls first opened, but the wait was cut to about 10 minutes by 10 a.m.

The City of Philadelphia has set up a pre-canvass and canvass live stream. You can watch it here.

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At about 8 a.m. Tuesday, the line to vote at Addisville Reformed Church, in Richboro in Bucks County, stretched out of the church and down the block. Here's a look, courtesy of Patch reader Andrea Cohen.

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All eyes are on Pennsylvania, one of the most coveted battleground states in the 2020 contest. Both candidates spent time campaigning in the state during the final day of the race. President Donald Trump and Biden made stops Monday. Biden was in western Pennsylvania on Monday and Trump, meanwhile, appeared in Biden's hometown of Scranton

Polls in Pennsylvania will be open for in-person voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're planning on voting in-person and are not sure where to go to vote, you can find your polling place here.

If you have a mail-in ballot that you have not yet sent, election officials in Pennsylvania are urging residents to hand-deliver the ballots to your local county's elections office or drop box. You must drop it off by 8 p.m. Find a ballot drop box near you.

The state has put together a multi-agency task force to protect the election and address any election-related unrest.

Meanwhile, Montgomery County officials are reminding residents they've established an Election Tip Line. A team of prosecutors and detectives are in place to investigate any issues. The Montgomery County Election Tip Line is 610-292-2020.

View more headlines from election season in Pennsylvania

News tips to Kara.Seymour@Patch.com

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