Pennsylvania

Why it might take Pennsylvania and Wisconsin longer to count ballots than other states

Published

1 year ago

November 3, 2024

Why it might take Pennsylvania and Wisconsin longer to count ballots than other states

While the nation’s eyes Tuesday night will be on a handful of swing states expected to determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, it may not be known for days who won Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. State laws governing when ballots can be processed in those states may mean a repeat of 2020, when it wasn’t until the Saturday after the election that Pennsylvania’s results gave Democratic nominee Joe Biden the votes needed to secure a majority in the Electoral College.

In response to that days-long wait, many states overhauled their election laws to make it faster to count vote by mail, absentee and overseas ballots. While Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are often lumped with Michigan in the “blue wall” of Rust Belt swing states, they now differ in one important way: Michigan allows election workers to begin tabulating mailed-in ballots more than a week before Election Day, though the results cannot be revealed until after the polls close.

But the state legislatures in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have not made similar changes to election procedures and experts expect their results to come in later than Michigan, or the other swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina.

The Keystone and Badger states each prohibit election officials from beginning to open and count absentee ballots until 7 a.m. Election Day, when they must also deal with in-person voting.

The Pennsylvania State Secretary’s office describes it this way on its website: “Hundreds of thousands – sometimes millions – of mail ballots are cast in every election, and current state law does not permit counties to begin opening these ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day. That means county election officials cannot even remove the ballots from the envelopes and prepare them to be scanned until that time – on a day when those same officials are also running more than 9,000 polling places across the state.”

No preprocessing of vote by mail or absentee ballots

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 43 states allow pre-processing of mail-in ballots, which includes verifying the voter’s information and eligibility on the mail ballot envelope, opening the envelope, and removing the ballot.

Carolina Lopez, executive director of the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions, said the inability to do preprocessing doesn’t mean Pennsylvania or Wisconsin are slow, has fraud or that there is any problem with their procedures.

“Not every state is created equal, right? So if you’re from Florida, you’re going to get results a little quicker, simply because we have 22 days of pre-processing,” she said. “If you’re in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, by law, they’re not allowed to start until Election Day. So it’s just a quick numbers game. It doesn’t mean that Florida is more efficient or less efficient than some of their counterparts. It just means that the laws are a little different.”

‘People have to be patient’

Local election clerks in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have repeatedly pushed state lawmakers since 2020 to allow preprocessing, said Lawrence Norden, Vice President of the Elections & Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

In “Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, the election officials have been begging for years, and certainly since 2020, to allow them to process mail ballots earlier, the way they do in most of the other battleground states, so that on election night they just press a button and can have the results. Their state legislatures wouldn’t do it,” he said.

Because the state legislatures didn’t act, local officials have sought to solve the problem on their own.

In Pennsylvania, the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate couldn’t agree on a bill that would allow early processing. Republicans wanted to tie it to expanded voter ID requirements, Democrats refused. When Republicans controlled both chambers in 2021 they expanded voter ID requirements, and the Democratic governor vetoed it.

Pennsylvania has made improvements since 2020, and it is not expected to take until the weekend to count all the ballots this time. County election directors have now had multiple cycles working with vote-by-mail and have received millions of dollars through a state-funded grant program that allowed some to purchase machines to help more quickly open and sort mailed ballots.

Abigail Gardner, a spokesperson for the Allegheny County government, said staff are expecting up to 250,000 absentee ballots and about 450,000 in-person votes. She said vote counting might be faster than it was in 2020 because they are expecting fewer absentee ballots, and they have brought on more staff and purchased high-speed envelope openers.

In Wisconsin, where Republicans control both chambers of the legislature, a Republican-led effort to allow for early canvassing stalled in the Senate in February. The state Assembly had passed a bill in November that would allow election workers to begin processing absentee ballots the day before an election. The Democratic governor had said he would sign the bill if it reached him.

Local election officials can choose to count vote-by-mail ballots either at the ballot locations or at a central location. Most of the larger jurisdictions have chosen central locations and have bought high-speed machines to speed up processing, Marge Bostelmann, member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, told USA TODAY.

“It may be a little quicker, but it really all depends on how quickly the ballots can be input and how quickly the machine will read them after they’re put into the machine,” Bostelmann said.

In Wisconsin, over 1.2 million absentee and vote by mail ballots had already been received as of Oct. 31, according to the state Elections Commission. In 2020, Wisconsin’s result was called by the Associated Press around 2 p.m. the day after the election. Multiple state election officials have warned that it could be the middle of the night, or sometime Wednesday before the mail-in ballots are counted.

Jay Heck, executive director of the good-government watchdog Common Cause in Wisconsin, said in-person voting in his state is expected to be counted before midnight on Election Day. But tabulating absentee ballots for the combined unofficial results could take until 2 a.m., he said.

“People have to be patient,” Heck said.

In 2020, Trump declared victory before the votes were all counted

Last time, then-President Donald Trump, who is again the Republican nominee in 2024, didn’t wait for the mail-in votes to be counted: he declared victory while he was ahead because his supporters had been more likely to vote in person. Then, he made false accusations of late-night “ballot dumps” of illegal votes when the mail-in ballots had been counted and added to the totals, something that in many states occurred in the middle of the night.

When the final vote count showed Biden winning Pennsylvania by about 80,000 votes, Trump claimed without evidence the election was being stolen from him in the state. Trump also claimed fraud when Biden won Wisconsin by 20,700 votes.

Polls have consistently shown a very tight race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in every swing state, including Wisconsin, where Trump leads Harris 48% to 47% according to a late October USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll, and Pennsylvania, where Trump leads by less than 1 percentage point in the FiveThirtyEight polling average.

Trump has told his rallies to expect a big victory on Tuesday, saying Oct. 30 he could only envision losing “if it was a corrupt election.”

“If there are tens of millions of people who believe that this election can only be won by one candidate, you can imagine the shock that might occur if that candidate loses, and the way that could be leveraged into anger and potentially violence in the post election period,” David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said.

‘Just don’t have the money or the staffing’

In Pennsylvania, there is the added wrinkle that some people vote by mail in place of early in person voting. Many counties without early voting allow people to apply in person for a vote by mail ballot, then they can fill it out and immediately drop in off.

As of Oct. 31, nearly 2.2 million absentee and vote by mail ballots had already been received, according to the state.

Data from Pennsylvania shows that while Republicans are increasing voting by mail, they are still outnumbered substantially by the number of Democrats.

Widener University Political Science Professor Wesley Leckrone, an expert on Pennsylvania politics, said he expects the larger population centers to process those ballots quickly because they have the money to hire staff. His concern is the surrounding high-population suburban counties that are key to determining the winner won’t be able to process results Tuesday and it could be later in the week before the outcome is known.

“There’s a lot of counties that just don’t have the money or the staffing to be able to do this,” he said. “It could well be Trump will be up at 10 o’clock on Tuesday night but not all the mail in ballots have been brought in.”

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Published

4 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Is Pennsylvania the most wrestling-centric state in the country? Does the Keystone State have the most talent? Or even the top talent? Is it harder to win a state title there than anywhere else?

These all are terrific questions, and the answers may vary depending on who you ask and where they’re from, much like our nation’s great pizza debate, where the answers will vary by region.

What we do know for sure, is that Pennsylvania is well-represented in the 2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings, but with the 2026 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships on the horizon, where do the competitors rank amongst their peers?

If you follow high school wrestling, you’ve probably already heard many of the names, whether it was at past PIAA events, national tournaments, international competition, college recruiting news or signings, etc.

Now, here they are listed by weight class in FloWrestling’s latest Pennsylvania-only rankings.

Among the most recognizable are Bishop McCort senior Bo Bassett (152 pounds), his brother and teammate Melvin Miller (172 pounds) and Adam Waters (189 pounds) from rival school Faith Christian Academy.

As you get ready to see who takes home the titles at the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships, set for March 5-7 at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, here’s a look at where everyone falls in the pecking order:

What Are The Weight Classes For High School Wrestling In Pennsylvania?

Boys: 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285
Girls: 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA State Championships

As of Feb. 22, 2026

Boys

Girls

When Are The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships will take place March 5-7, live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app.

The first girls wrestling champions in PIAA action were determined in 2024.

The road back to GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, began with regional competition across 12 sites (eight boys, four girls) in February (Feb. 20-21; Feb. 22; Feb. 27-28; Feb. 28)

Among the highlights at the 2025 event was Bassett winning his second individual PIAA state championship and helping Bishop McCort to a Class AA runner-up finish behind Faith Christian.

Read more: 2025 PIAA Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets

How To Watch The 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships

Live coverage of the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships on March 5-7 will be broadcast on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, with news, notes, stats and more available on both platforms.

Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match.

If you’re going to be in the area and want to catch the action in person, click here for spectator and ticket information.

Read more: 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule & Brackets

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Brackets

Here’s where you’ll be able to find the brackets for the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships:

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule

Here’s a look at when everything is going down:

All Times Eastern

Wednesday, March 4

4-7 p.m. – Media registration
4-7 p.m. – School registration (AA/Girls/AAA)
4-7 p.m. – Qualifying wrestlers’ workout (AA/Girls/AAA) (six mats)
6 p.m. – Officials’ meeting

Thursday, March 5 (Session 1)

7:30 a.m. – Media registration
7:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
7:30 a.m. – Late school registration (AA)
7:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
8 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
9 a.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AA), six mats (52/104 matches)
12:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (AA), six mats
12:30 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
12:30 p.m. – Late school registration (Girls)
12:45 p.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
1 p.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
2 p.m. – First round (Girls), six mats (104 matches)
3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
3 p.m. – Late school registration (AAA)
3:15 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
3:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
3:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
4:30 p.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AAA), six mats (52/104 matches)
8 p.m. – First-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)

Friday, March 6 (Session 2/Session 3)

6:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
6:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
7 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
8 a.m. – Quarterfinals (AA), three mats (52 matches)
8 a.m. – Second-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
10:15 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
10:30 a.m. – Third-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
10:30 a.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
10:45 a.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
11:45 a.m. – Quarterfinals (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
12:45 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
1 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
1:15 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
1:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinals (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
2:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
4:45 p.m. – Third-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)
6:15 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
7 p.m. – Semifinals (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (26/26/26 matches)
9 p.m. – Fourth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
9 p.m. – Third-round consolations (Girls), two mats (26 matches)

Saturday, March 7 (Session 4/Session 5)

8 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:15 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:30 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:45 a.m. – Skin condition check, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
9 a.m. – Weigh-in, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
9:30 a.m. – Fifth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
9:30 a.m. – Fourth-round consolations (Girls), 2 mats (26 matches)
11:30 a.m. – Third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (39/39/39 matches)
11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
3:40 p.m. – Parade of Champions (AA/Girls/AAA)
4 p.m. – Championship Finals (AA/Girls/AAA), 1/1/1 mats (13/13/13 matches)

When Was The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships took place Feb. 6-7 at the 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and included 20 teams that survived the preliminary and first round of the tournament, which was held Feb. 3 at host schools across the state.

The advancing teams made their way to Johnstown for two more days of intense competition, with the 1st Summit Arena hosting the quarterfinals through the championship matches.

In Pennsylvania this year, there were 475 schools participating in boys wrestling.

They were divided into two classifications – 228 schools in AA and 247 schools in AAA – which are further split into 12 districts. Class AA is for schools with 1-308 male enrollees, and Class AAA wrestling includes schools with 309-9999 male students.

Read more: 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships Schedule & Brackets

Did You Know: PIAA Wrestling Has A Long History

The first state wrestling championships in Keystone State happened in 1938, while the girls were added to the action in 2024. The PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships debuted in 1999.

There are 14 four-time individual state champions in Pennsylvania. Another 30 have won three times.

2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings

Top 20 as of Feb. 18, 2026

Curious about how the top wrestlers from each state stack up against competitors from across the country?

Click here to see the latest high school rankings from FloWrestling.

FULL DUAL: Bishop McCort vs. Faith Christian | 2026 PIAA AA Team State Finals

Faith Christian has been dominant in team wrestling in Pennsylvania, and Bishop McCort keeps falling just short.

Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling

Trackwrestling officially has merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform.

Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.

This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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Pennsylvania

Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police

Published

16 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police

A man has been cited after police said he drove a vehicle into a frozen pond at a country club in Pennsylvania, left the scene, then spent the night in a hotel.

According to the East Lampeter Township Police Department, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, around 10:38 a.m., officers were called to the Lancaster Country Club after receiving reports about a vehicle in a pond.

Police said that, through an investigation, it was learned that Sung Chun, a 50-year-old man from Hoboken, New Jersey, had driven onto the property the day before around 8:30 p.m., crossed portions of the golf course, and ultimately ended up in a pond.

Chun then exited the vehicle and walked away without reporting the incident and spent the night at a nearby hotel, according to police.

Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Police said Chun returned to the location while police were on scene investigating the incident and was ultimately cited with “Trespass by Motor Vehicle.”

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Pennsylvania

State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

In rural Pennsylvania, State College houses Penn State against a backdrop of beautiful country scenery. The university hosts many events, arts performances, and lively festivals that give the town year-round excitement that blends student life with local charm. Visitors can attend a football game, explore nearby parks and trails, and savor the town’s growing culinary scene of pubs and local eateries.

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