Pennsylvania’s vote, key to deciding the presidential race, has been slowed by the count of more than 3 million mail-in ballots and the result may not be known today, Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday. At 8 a.m. Wednesday, election officials said that 1.4 million mail-in ballots remain to be counted, that number dropped to about 1 million by the afternoon. Those ballots could tip the race. President Donald Trump led Democratic challenger Joe Biden by a 52.7% to 46.2% with 84% of all ballots had been counted.

Former Pennsylvania governors Tom Ridge and Ed Rendell joined Gov. Tom Wolf in urging patience as the state continues to count votes after Tuesday’s presidential election, saying it is absolutely essential to allow election workers to do their jobs to ensure every vote counts. “We want to remind Pennsylvanians today that the election process is not over,” said Ridge in a press release. “Every vote must be counted regardless of whether that takes a few more hours or a few more days. Regardless of the outcome of the election, we must let our county election officials and their staff members have the time to count the votes.

With more than a million votes left to be counted in Pennsylvania, two former governors and a longtime county elections director convened a press briefing Wednesday morning after President Trump’s misleading remarks about winning the state and the start of an anticipated deluge of legal actions challenging the commonwealth’s vote count. “What the president did last night, … he was criticized [by] thoughtful people on both sides of the aisle for suggesting it’s over because the clock struck midnight on Nov. 3,” said former Gov. Tom Ridge, a Republican in office from 1995-2001.

“To tell the truth, I don’t have the foggiest idea who won those three races,” said former Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat from Philadelphia. “These offices are very important to Pennsylvania,” said former Gov. Tom Ridge, a Republican from Erie. “And frankly I’m not sure people on either side of the aisle paid enough attention to who is running and what they actually do.”

Former Pennsylvania Govs. Tom Ridge, who co-chairs of the bipartisan national election initiative VoteSafe, and Ed Rendell today urged patience as the state continues to tabulate votes after a high-turnout presidential election on Nov. 3, saying it is absolutely essential to let election workers do their jobs to ensure every vote counts and every Pennsylvania voice is heard. “We want to remind Pennsylvanians today that the election process is not over,” said Ridge, who was also joined by Jeff Greenburg, former Mercer County Director of Elections and current Regional Director for Election Support for the National Vote at Home Institute.

Before the formal Zoom news conference got rolling Wednesday, it was the Tom and Ed show — two of Pennsylvania’s former governors, Tom Ridge and Ed Rendell, gamely shooting the breeze about football. They weighed in on the Steelers, the Eagles, and even the Steagles, the combo team formed during World War II. But when showtime started at 10 a.m. for a 30-minute discussion with the media about voting, things turned deadly serious. Both former governors — Republican Ridge and Democrat Rendell — joined forces in a demonstration of bipartisan unity to preach patience to Pennsylvanians who once again find themselves at the epicenter of the race for president.

The game is not over yet. Pennsylvanians have cast their votes, the votes are still being counted, and two former governors of the Keystone State said Wednesday morning that we need to be patient and give elections officials time to count those million-plus outstanding ballots.

With at least a million votes left to be counted in Pennsylvania, two former governors and a longtime county elections director convened a press briefing Wednesday morning after President Trump’s misleading remarks about winning the state and the start of an anticipated deluge of legal actions challenging the commonwealth’s vote count. “What the president did last night, … he was criticized [by] thoughtful people on both sides of the aisle for suggesting it’s over because the clock struck midnight on Nov. 3,” said former Gov. Tom Ridge, a Republican in office from 1995-2001.

‘Game is not over’. Earlier Wednesday, two of Wolf’s predecessors — Democrat Ed Rendell and Republican Tom Ridge — continued to urge voters to be patient as the state works to ensure all votes are counted. “Last week, the Steelers were down at halftime and the Eagles were losing at halftime and they both came out victorious,” Ridge said. “The game is not over.” Rendell said that it’s not uncommon for election results to be delayed. “Somehow there is a myth that counting votes after Election Day is new,” Rendell said. “Most election counting continues for a day or two after the election,” he said.

‘Game is not over’. Earlier Wednesday, two of Wolf’s predecessors — Democrat Ed Rendell and Republican Tom Ridge — continued to urge voters to be patient as the state works to ensure all votes are counted. “Last week, the Steelers were down at halftime and the Eagles were losing at halftime and they both came out victorious,” Ridge said. “The game is not over.” Rendell said that it’s not uncommon for election results to be delayed.

Former governors Tom Ridge and Ed Rendell held a news conference to answer what they said were “misperceptions” circulating about the process of counting mail-in ballots. “At the end of the day, we simply have to let the process proceed, as predicted, with the unprecedented number of absentee ballots being cast because of an unprecedented pandemic creating an unprecedented political environment,” Ridge, a Republican, said.

‘Game is not over’. Earlier Wednesday, two of Wolf’s predecessors — Democrat Ed Rendell and Republican Tom Ridge — continued to urge voters to be patient as the state works to ensure all votes are counted. “Last week, the Steelers were down at halftime and the Eagles were losing at halftime and they both came out victorious,” Ridge said. “The game is not over.” Rendell said that it’s not uncommon for election results to be delayed.

Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Wolf and two of his predecessors — Democrat Ed Rendell and Republican Tom Ridge — continued to urge voters to be patient as election officials count more than 2.5 million mail-in ballots. “Last week, the Steelers were down at halftime and the Eagles were losing at halftime and they both came out victorious,” Ridge said. “The game is not over.” Rendell said that it’s not uncommon for election results to be delayed.

Throughout my years in Congress and while working for Jack Murtha, I have never seen our country so divided. Beyond the typical gridlock and partisanship that has become routine in our modern-day politics, there are times when a line in the sand must be drawn. That time is now. For months, like the rest of my fellow Pennsylvanians, I have heard repeated rumors and myths about our electoral process and whether the use of mail-in ballots can be considered safe and secure. Make no mistake, these falsehoods and outright lies that are festering on social media and embedded in political campaigns are intentionally designed to make you – the voter – apprehensive and nervous about voting in the upcoming election.

The effort to protect Mail-in voting safety is increasing as the deadline draws near. Former Johnstown area Congressman, Mark Critz, talked about Mail-in safety Wednesday, saying he’s part of VoteSafe Pennsylvania, a Bipartisan coalition endorsed by all five of the Commonwealth’s living former Governors advocating for secure Mail-in Ballots and safe in-person voting sites. The group is also educating Voters about what voting options are available to them. Critz says those who may have doubts based on what they hear from National Figures should keep in mind that it’s local people who run the Elections in their County. Tuesday is the deadline to apply for a Mail-in Ballot. It must be postmarked or returned to your County Election Office by 8pm on Election Day.

In one ad, Sue from Pennsylvania introduces herself as “an Army wife, a mother, a grandmother and a die-hard believer in our right to vote.” She is not a politician, she says. She is a poll worker, who has worked in Pennsylvania for the last eight years. As she is shown setting up a polling location and placing bilingual “Vote Aquí/Here” signs outside a community center near Easton, Pa., Sue addresses concerns about whether voting will be secure this November. Her answer is clear. “I know the process. I have seen it up close,” Sue says. “It is safe, it is secure, and I promise I am going to protect your vote as if it was my own.”

Eugene DiGirolamo, a Republican county commissioner in Bucks County, the state’s fourth-most populous county, said processing the ballots early is a “critical issue, not only for Bucks, but I would imagine for a lot of the other counties around the state, especially the larger ones.” Processing the ballots involves extracting a ballot from the two envelopes it arrives in, flattening and scanning it, but not officially tabulating it until polls close. Getting five to seven days before the election to accomplish all that is ideal, DiGirolamo said.

One Lehigh Valley poll worker is assuring voters across Pennsylvania they have nothing to worry about. “I’ll protect your vote just as if it was my own,” Forks Township Elections Judge Susan Glovas says in a new VoteSafe Pennsylvania commercial being shown statewide on Fox and digital platforms. VoteSafe is a national bipartisan coalition formed this summer to promote “an efficient, accessible, secure mail-in ballot process and safe, in-person voting sites,” according to its website.

Young people need to vote. That’s not a radical statement for young people to hear — your favorite musician, actor, cousin, etc., has probably been saying the same for years. But those in power can’t just demand that young people, people of color, and other neglected communities vote. We also need to have a conversation about the power in voting.Due to the pandemic, we’ve been given so many different ways to vote. If you like the traditional in-person Election Day, Nov. 3 is right around the corner. If Nov. 3 doesn’t work for you, Philadelphia has started Early Voting Centers, and you can go at your convenience. If you’d rather vote from home, you can request a mail-in ballot until Oct. 27. If you are unsure of voting by mail, you can drop it in a ballot drop box.

Meanwhile, VoteSafe Pennsylvania, a part of the national VoteSafe organization, while pushing for the same things as the parent group, is taking the groups’ messages to the smallest of communities, hoping to garner voter support. VoteSafe Pennsylvania is urging beefed-up negotiations on broad election reform in this state, and the Office of Attorney General and Department of State are issuing warnings about robocalls spreading disinformation to suppress Nov. 3 voting.

VoteSafe Releases 30 Second Ad: The 30 second TV and digital spot features Sue Glovas, a woman from Northampton County, who has been a poll worker for the last eight years. She talks about the voting process in the state being safe and secure.

VoteSafe Pa coalition member, former state representative and current Bucks County Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo said pre-canvassing should be a top priority. He said his county has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for machines that sort and open outer envelopes, and that polling places will be staffed at all hours just to process mailed ballots. “I don’t think there is any way that we’re going to get through 200,000 and open ‘em, remove the ballot, scan ‘em, and tabulate ‘em just with one day,” said DiGirolamo, a Republican.

“In America, we have been voting by mail for over 100 years. It just happens to be more in use right now because of the global pandemic,” said Sec. Patrick Murphy. Former Pennsylvania congressman and Army undersecretary Patrick Murphy is the co-chair of VoteSafe Pennsylvania, a bipartisan safe voting coalition led nationally by former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

Nov. 3, 2020, will be a different kind of Election Day in Pennsylvania. Across the commonwealth, government officials and civic leaders are working hard to ensure a successful election in spite of the global pandemic. Pennsylvania is getting ready to meet this challenge. Pennsylvania residents who are registered to vote can now vote by mail. Thanks to bipartisan legislative efforts last year, you don’t have to be out of town or unable to go to the polls. You can apply to vote by mail at votespa.com, and your ballot will be mailed to you. If you include an email address with your application, you will receive notifications about changes in the status of your application and your ballot as the process proceeds.

VoteSafe Pennsylvania is advocating for secure mail-in ballots and safe in-person voting sites amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Community Ambassador Jimmy Rollins was interviewed why WIP-FM’s Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger. Jimmy Rollins, shortstop and offensive sparkplug for the Philadelphia Phillies during their great run in the 2000s. National League MVP in 2007, four-time Gold Glove winner. Played for the Phillies for 14 years

A short ballot will greet voters here and across Pennsylvania on Nov. 3. Voters who go to the polls that day, as well as those who choose to make their selections by way of a mail-in or absentee ballot, will have little difficulty navigating the actual process of responsible decision-making. VoteSafe Pennsylvania is urging beefed-up negotiations on broad election reform in this state, and the Office of Attorney General and Department of State are issuing warnings about robocalls spreading disinformation to suppress Nov. 3 voting.

A short ballot will greet voters here and across Pennsylvania on Nov. 3. Voters who go to the polls that day, as well as those who choose to make their selections by way of a mail-in or absentee ballot, will have little difficulty navigating the actual process of responsible decision-making.The cross-partisan coalition VoteSafe describes itself as an organization endorsing and defending the basic principle that every American has the right to vote safely amid the pandemic. Meanwhile, VoteSafe Pennsylvania, a part of the national VoteSafe organization, while pushing for the same things as the parent group, is taking the groups’ messages to the smallest of communities, hoping to garner voter support.

A time should be set aside for counting such early ballots just before Election Day under strict supervision, so those results can be added without delay to the totals emanating from the counting conducted election night after the polls close. Meanwhile, VoteSafe Pennsylvania, a part of the national VoteSafe organization, while pushing for the same things as the parent group, is taking the groups’ messages to the smallest of communities, hoping to garner voter support

We’re less than 60 days away from the election, and I’m sounding the alarm to anyone who will listen. As a Bucks County Commissioner and a former Republican state representative who served 25 years in the assembly, I can tell you that while our county is working hard to prepare for the Nov. 3 election, we need help. We need the state legislature and Gov. Wolf to work together on reforms that enable counties to process mail-in ballots in a safe, secure, and timely manner.

VoteSafe Pennsylvania’s Community Ambassador Franco Harris talks with reporter Nubyjas Wilborn about his work with the coalition and why he’s working to spread awareness about mail-in voting. NFL Legend and four-time Steeler Super Bowl Champion, Franco Harris is serving as Community Ambassador Chair of the coalition.

The cross-partisan coalition VoteSafe describes itself as an organization endorsing and defending the basic principle that every American has the right to vote safely amid the pandemic. Meanwhile, VoteSafe Pennsylvania, a part of the national VoteSafe organization, while pushing for the same things as the parent group, is taking the groups’ messages to the smallest of communities, hoping to garner voter support. VoteSafe Pennsylvania is urging beefed-up negotiations on broad election reform in this state, and the Office of Attorney General and Department of State are issuing warnings about robocalls spreading disinformation to suppress Nov. 3 voting.

VoteSafe Pennsylvania’s Community Ambassador Chair Franco Harris was a guest on WIP’s “Tell Us Your Story”. VoteSafe Pennsylvania is advocating for secure mail-in ballots and safe in-person voting sites amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Franco Harris, a graduate of Penn State, played for the Steelers for 12 years. A four-time Super Bowl Champion in the 1970s, he was MVP of Super Bowl IX and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Widely regarded as one of the best players to have ever played professional football, Franco is probably best known as the man who caught and scored the “Immaculate Reception,” a play often ranked as the great moment in NFL history.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge wants voters to be prepared for what to expect on election night. Specifically, he said voters need to understand it’s very likely, if not probable, that the presidential race won’t be decided on election night. In a news conference this week, Ridge said some states, including Pennsylvania, are going to need days, perhaps weeks, to count all the ballots, especially with so many being cast by mail.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge said Wednesday that he hopes state lawmakers and current Gov. Tom Wolf can reach an agreement on election reforms that include providing counties more time to prepare mailed-ballots before Election Day. Ridge made it clear that the available evidence indicates there is little fraud associated with mail-in voting, but that state officials need to act so that local officials are in a better position to handle what’s expected to be an avalanche of mail-in ballots in November.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge said Wednesday that he hopes state lawmakers and the current governor Tom Wolf can reach an agreement on an election reform, championed by Mercer County’s former election director, to allow counties more time to prepare mailed-in ballots before Election Day. Ridge made it clear that the available evidence indicates there is little fraud associated with mail-in voting, but that state officials need to act so that local officials are in a better position to handle what’s expected to be an avalanche of mail-in ballots in November.

Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, a Republican, today called for Pennsylvania counties to be allowed to pre-canvass mail ballots ahead of Election Day. This follows a June primary where a surge in mail-in voting led to counties counting ballots over a week after Election Day, and the leading candidate in 10 down ballot races changing after election night. A bill that passed the state House last week would give counties three days to do so, but Wolf’s spokesperson said he would veto it in current form because it would ban drop boxes. On a press call held by VoteSafe Pennsylvania, Ridge said he doesn’t have a preference on drop boxes but that early pre-canvassing should be supported by both sides. “I just don’t see this as being a partisan issue,” he said. “We’ve got Republicans and Democrats at the local level who are asking the governor and the legislature, Republicans and Democrats, to ease these restrictions and let them give them adequate time to do their job.”

Pennsylvania is one of seven states that don’t allow mail-in ballots to be processed and counted until Election Day. County and state officials say that could be disastrous in a year when the commonwealth is grappling with a pandemic and millions of people are expected to vote by mail.

Pennsylvania is one of seven states that don’t allow mail-in ballots to be processed and counted until Election Day. County and state officials say that could be disastrous in a year when the commonwealth is grappling with a pandemic and millions of people are expected to vote by mail.

Pennsylvania is one of seven states that don’t allow mail-in ballots to be processed and counted until Election Day. County and state officials say that could be disastrous in a year when the commonwealth is grappling with a pandemic and millions of people are expected to vote by mail.

Pennsylvania is one of seven states that don’t allow mail-in ballots to be processed and counted until Election Day. County and state officials say that could be disastrous in a year when the commonwealth is grappling with a pandemic and millions of people are expected to vote by mail.

Pennsylvania is one of seven states that don’t allow mail-in ballots to be processed and counted until Election Day. County and state officials say that could be disastrous in a year when the commonwealth is grappling with a pandemic and millions of people are expected to vote by mail.

Pennsylvania is one of seven states that don’t allow mail-in ballots to be processed and counted until Election Day. County and state officials say that could be disastrous in a year when the commonwealth is grappling with a pandemic and millions of people are expected to vote by mail.

Pennsylvania is one of seven states that don’t allow mail-in ballots to be processed and counted until Election Day. County and state officials say that could be disastrous in a year when the commonwealth is grappling with a pandemic and millions of people are expected to vote by mail.

Pennsylvania is one of seven states that don’t allow mail-in ballots to be processed and counted until Election Day. County and state officials say that could be disastrous in a year when the commonwealth is grappling with a pandemic and millions of people are expected to vote by mail.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge is urging Pennsylvania and other states to ensure counties have the time they need to process ballots cast by mail in the November election.

With less than eight weeks until Election Day, former Republican Governor Tom Ridge is calling on lawmakers to amend election law. Ridge says county clerks should be able to process ballots before Election Day to prevent prolonged delays in results.

The former Republican governor of Pennsylvania on Wednesday called on that state’s legislature to make a small change to how mail-in ballots are counted that could make a huge difference in how quickly election results are reported in November.

The former Republican governor of Pennsylvania on Wednesday called on that state’s legislature to make a small change to how mail-in ballots are counted that could make a huge difference in how quickly election results are reported in November.

Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge is urging state lawmakers to change a law barring elections officials from processing mail-in ballots before Election Day. In a news conference Wednesday, Ridge, a Republican who is now the co-chair of the bipartisan group VoteSafe, said the state legislature should find a compromise that would allow earlier processing of mail-ins.

A former Republican governor of Pennsylvania on Wednesday called on that state’s Legislature to make a small change to how mail-in ballots are counted that could make a huge difference in how quickly election results are reported in November. “We must take all steps possible to ensure that officials can still run secure and efficient elections. Any effort to the contrary only serves to discredit the outcome and the sanctity of our vote,” wrote Tom Ridge, who was Pennsylvania’s governor from 1995 to 2001.

“In a primary, in a [state government] office, it’s an inconvenience – it’s not the end of the world,” says Dave Reed, former Republican majority leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, who now co-chairs VoteSafe PA, a cross-partisan coalition working to ensure a safe and secure election. “When you’re talking about who’s going to be the next president of the United States, we have to be thorough and prompt.”

Former Steeler Franco Harris joins radio personalities Lynne Hayes-Freeland and Robert Mangino to discuss the importance of the upcoming election. Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers Franco Harris will serve as community ambassador chair of VoteSafe Pennsylvania. This is a group advocating for secure mail-in ballots and safe in-person voting sites amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of his future endeavors will be volunteering with VoteSafe Pennsylvania, a coalition of government officials — including all of the state’s living former governors — focused on educating voters on how to participate in November’s election. “It’s hard to get it out of your blood,” Judge Walko said of politics. He said he has four adult children and is worried about the environment, civil rights and voting rights, among other things.

Among the groups he hopes to volunteer with after leaving the bench is VoteSafe — to ensure everyone has the ability to vote in the fall. “I believe that our nation is at a crossroads,” said Walko, who has four adult children. “I just want to be able to participate actively in some way.”

This election year is unlike any other. For the first time in over a century, Pennsylvania voters will participate in an election during a global pandemic. As we prepare for this election, state officials must make special preparations to ensure voter safety and security. That means making sure voters know they have the option to submit their ballot by mail if they choose. It also means ensuring in-person voting locations allow voters to participate in the election without having to fear for their health and safety. To meet this dual objective, state and county election officials must meet five obligations in service of public health and voter safety.

As the former leaders of the Pennsylvania Republican Party and Pennsylvania Democratic Party, we know that over the next few months, a simple right we are all guaranteed by the Constitution—the right to vote—will face scrutiny and come under attack. There are efforts, mainly from influences outside Pennsylvania, that are trying to claim voting by mail favors one political party over the other. There are some who claim that voting by mail is ripe for fraud and abuse, and others who have even gone so far as to suggest that the election should be delayed until the pandemic is over. Let us be clear: all of these allegations are simply not true. *Alan Novak and T.J. Rooney are the former chairs of the Pennsylvania Republican Party and Democratic Party

Toward that end, we have full confidence and trust in our county election officials. So much so, that we both plan to vote by mail this November. We know they are working tirelessly to ensure that mail-ballots, as well as altered in-person polling locations, are safe and secure, should voters choose that option. Exercising your constitutional right to vote is always a good thing, regardless of the modality by which you vote. We are living in an unprecedented time, and voting by mail will allow the continuity of our government and democracy to continue uninterrupted.

A coalition of non-profits and community leaders has formed VoteSafe PA – a group that says it is dedicated to “an efficient, accessible, secure mail-in ballot process and safe, in-person voting sites that ensure Pennsylvanians won’t have to risk their health for simply standing in line to vote.”

This November’s election will be unlike any other in American history. Voter turnout and subsequently, the candidates that win or lose, could be determined by whether voters feel safe from the COVID-19 virus. On Monday’s Smart Talk, we’ll learn more from VoteSafe PA co-chairs – former state House Majority Leader Dave Reed and former Congressman Patrick Murphy.

Current Philadelphia City Councilman Isaiah Thomas, Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson, and former Councilwomen Donna Reed Miller, Blondell Reynolds, and Jannie Blackwell will work to raise awareness among Philadelphia voters in the upcoming months so they know what voting options are available to them under the state’s constitution and according to local election laws.

Prior to this year, Pennsylvania was among the most restrictive states for early and absentee voting. But in October, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf signed bipartisan legislation giving voters the option to cast their ballots by mail without an excuse, following a national trend toward increased absentee-voting options. (subscription required)

President Trump suggested Thursday that Election Day should be pushed back. But could that actually happen? NBC10’s Lauren Mayk investigates.

The coalition will advocate for mail-in voting and other safe voting options. Former U.S. Rep. Phil English, a Republican who represented Erie County in Congress from 1995 to 2009, has joined the bipartisan coalition VoteSafe PA to guarantee Pennsylvanians a secure means of voting in this year’s presidential election.

A group of bipartisan, former Pennsylvania lawmakers is banding together to remind residents of safe voting options this Fall. The coalition is in collaboration with Vote Safe Pennsylvania. It’s co-chaired by former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and former Democratic U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy. Together, they’re advocating for safe voting options this Fall. “We’re not playing partisan political games. We are putting our country first. And our country and our fellow Americans should exercise their right to vote,” Murphy explains.

The coalition is in collaboration with Vote Safe Pennsylvania. A group of bipartisan, former Pennsylvania lawmakers is banding together to remind residents of safe voting options this Fall. It’s co-chaired by former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and former Democratic U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy. Together, they’re advocating for safe voting options this Fall. “

HIT: President Trump and his allies are trying to raise doubts about mail-in ballots, even though there’s no evidence that voting by mail favors one party over another. Not all Republicans share Trump’s views, as evidenced by the participation of four former GOP governors of Pennsylvania in the VoteSafe Pennsylvania initiative. The bipartisan coalition includes former Republican governors Tom Corbett, Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker and Richard Thornburgh, as well as Democrat Ed Rendell. The group seeks to promote both mail-in balloting and safe polling places amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bracken Burns, a South Strabane Township supervisor and former Washington County commissioner, is a member of the group, and he said this week he recommends voting by mail. “It could not be easier, not that I don’t enjoy going down to the township building and chatting with the troops,” he said.

In close presidential elections, Pennsylvania often plays a pivotal role, meaning that the two major political parties spend a great deal of money and energy on get-out-the-vote efforts there. In addition – though they don’t like to talk about it much – politicos also look for ways to discourage voters on the other side from showing up on Election Day. But these are no longer traditional times, so elected officials on both sides of the aisle have joined together in a statewide campaign called VoteSafe Pennsylvania to advocate for mail-in ballots for the 2020 presidential election.

A month or so ago, former state House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, was approached by former Gov. Tom Ridge about co-chairing a bipartisan effort to ensure that all voters have safe and secure voting options this fall. Reed, now a regional president of Indiana-based First Commonwealth Bank, accepted Ridge’s invitation and joined former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Bucks County, in heading up VoteSafe PA, which is focused on two different matters as the fall election approaches.

Former Gov. Ed Rendell believes Pennsylvania will pull off a safe, accurate vote this fall, but he hopes legislators change the law ahead of time so that mail-in ballots can be counted before the polls close on Nov. 3. “I’m confident the vote will be safe and accurate, but not so confident that the count won’t be a fiasco,” says Rendell. “Right now, the statute says for mail votes, they can only begin counting at 8 p.m. on Election Day, like they count in-person votes. That’s got to change. They should allow the vote to be counted as it comes in. That’s what they do in states that have early voting.”

A former Pennsylvania congressman and one-time leader of the state House of Representatives will lead a new coalition for a statewide voting campaign. Former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and one-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary and acting Secretary of the U.S. Army, launched Vote Safe Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with just over three months until the general election in November.

As a 21-year-old U.S. Army veteran, Bracken Burns was attending college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Kittanning campus when the first election rolled around in which he was eligible to vote. He recalled it was the primary of 1966, a few years before 18-year-olds won the right to vote in every state. Burns boarded one bus bound for Pittsburgh, caught another to Bellevue along the Ohio River, stopped by his home to say hello to his mom, then went to the polls. He repeated the route via public transportation to return to the campus. “I probably didn’t even know there was such a thing as an absentee ballot at the time,” Burns said Tuesday.

All five of Pennsylvania’s living former governors and more than a dozen former elected officials in the state have teamed up in an effort to educate voters on how to safely cast ballots in November, reports CBS News campaign reporter Zak Hudak. VoteSafe on Tuesday launched a bipartisan coalition in the state to “raise awareness among Pennsylvania residents so they know what voting options are available to them under the state’s constitution and according to county election laws,” according to a press release.

VoteSafe Pennsylvania, a coalition that launched a statewide campaign on Tuesday, will bring together officials from both parties to try to allay any fears voters may have about voting in the midst of a pandemic. They will try to explain to them their choices on how to safely do so — whether it be vote-by-mail or heading to an in-person precinct.

VoteSafe Pennsylvania has launched a statewide bipartisan campaign that aims to ensure every Pennsylvania voter has access to safe voting options for the November election.

Former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and one-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary and acting Secretary of the U.S. Army, launched Vote Safe Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with just over three months until the general election in November.

A former Pennsylvania congressman from Lower Bucks County and one-time leader of the state House of Representatives will lead a new coalition for a statewide voting campaign. Former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and one-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary and acting Secretary of the U.S. Army, launched Vote Safe Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with just over three months until the general election in November.

A former Pennsylvania congressman and one-time leader of the state House of Representatives will lead a new coalition for a statewide voting campaign. Former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and one-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary and acting Secretary of the U.S. Army, launched Vote Safe Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with just over three months until the general election in November.

Former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and one-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary and acting Secretary of the U.S. Army, launched Vote Safe Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with just over three months until the general election in November. “It is highly unlikely that polling locations will operate as usual in November, or that the voting experience will be anything close to normal, given the lingering effects of COVID-19,” said Reed, who serves as co-chairman alongside Murphy. “

A former Pennsylvania congressman and one-time leader of the state House of Representatives will lead a new coalition for a statewide voting campaign. Former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and one-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary and acting Secretary of the U.S. Army, launched Vote Safe Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with just over three months until the general election in November.

Former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and one-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary and acting Secretary of the U.S. Army, launched Vote Safe Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with just over three months until the general election in November. “It is highly unlikely that polling locations will operate as usual in November, or that the voting experience will be anything close to normal, given the lingering effects of COVID-19,” said Reed, who serves as co-chairman alongside Murphy. “

The November election is likely to occur while the coronavirus pandemic is still with us. So on Tuesday, a group of former elected officials joined to encourage safe and secure voting by mail. The national effort, called VoteSafe, is being co-chaired by former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. “Since the states have the responsibility to oversee these elections, we just want to make sure the public understands that we are together, bipartisan,” Ridge said.

Former Republican House Majority Leader Dave Reed and one-time Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary and acting Secretary of the U.S. Army, launched Vote Safe Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with just over three months until the general election in November. The coalition has the support of all five living former governors and a bipartisan collection of congressional lawmakers, local officials and community organizations dedicated to educating residents about their voting options – from mail-in ballots to in-person polling places.

A coalition of former Pennsylvania governors, legislators and members of Congress are joining forces ahead of the November general election to educate voters about the voting options available to them, while also dispelling myths about the safety and security of voting by mail.

A former Pennsylvania congressman and one-time leader of the state House of Representatives will lead a new coalition for a statewide voting campaign.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The November election is likely to occur while the coronavirus pandemic is still with us. So on Tuesday, a group of former elected officials joined to encourage safe and secure voting by mail. The national effort, called VoteSafe, is being co-chaired by former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.

All five of Pennsylvania’s living former governors – Republicans Tom Corbett, Mark Schweiker, Tom Ridge and Dick Thornburgh and Democrat Ed Rendell – have teamed up with a bipartisan group of former elected officials and political party bosses and others to launch a statewide campaign to advocate for secure mail-in ballots and safe in-person voting sites amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, a group of former Pennsylvania elected officials joined to encourage safe and secure voting by mail. The national effort, called VoteSafe, is being co-chaired by former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. Pennsylvania now allows all voters to vote by mail. Whatever glitches in the primary, former state House Republican Leader Dave Reed — who co-chairs Pennsylvania VoteSafe — says election officials should act.

A bipartisan pair of former lawmakers will lead a coalition aimed at supporting voting accessibility. VoteSafe was launched in May by former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. On Tuesday morning the group rolled out its Pennsylvania effort.

VoteSafe: The November election will be here sooner than we think. With the coronavirus expected to remain a problem into 2021, a bipartisan coalition is already working to inform voters about their options for casting a ballot by mail in the general election. VoteSafe Pennsylvania is launching a statewide educational campaign today, an effort backed by all five living former governors of the state.

Erie’s Tom Ridge, a Republican former Pennsylvania governor and director of Homeland Security, last week challenged Trump’s attacks. Ridge co-chairs the new bipartisan VoteSafe group that backs mail-in ballots as a safe way to protect voters and our elections. We’re with him.

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Former Pennsylvania Govs. Tom Ridge, who co-chairs of the bipartisan national election initiative VoteSafe, and Ed Rendell today urged patience as the state continues to tabulate votes after a high-turnout presidential election on Nov. 3, saying it is absolutely essential to let election workers do their jobs to ensure every vote counts and every Pennsylvania voice is heard. “We want to remind Pennsylvanians today that the election process is not over,” said Ridge, who was also joined by Jeff Greenburg, former Mercer County Director of Elections and current Regional Director for Election Support for the National Vote at Home Institute.

In response to the Trump campaign’s news conference this afternoon in Philadelphia, former Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who also served as Undersecretary Secretary of the U.S. Army, issued the following statement on behalf of VoteSafe PA: “Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting system is safe and secure. Any allegations of fraud are baseless. Nine million Pennsylvanians registered to vote and more than 3 million requested mail-in ballots for this election — a sign of voters’ intense interest in this election. We owe it to them to ensure every vote counts and every voice is heard. Because of the high turnout and large number of mail-in votes, we knew well before election day that it could take days to tabulate all the ballots and obtain a final result. None of what’s happening is at all a surprise. Our duty now is to give time to our local election officials — people who aren’t politicians, but who instead are our friends and neighbors — so they can do their jobs unobstructed and tabulate every vote they receive.”

With the state General Assembly adjourning session until after the Nov. 3 General Election, and without lawmakers coming to agreement on pre-canvassing legislation that had bipartisan backing and the support of nearly every Pennsylvania county, VoteSafe Pennsylvania is reminding voters that a final tabulation of results could take days—a process that ensures every vote counts and that the final count is accurate. Pre-canvassing is an administrative tool that would lessen the burden on county elections offices. Pre-canvassing allows counties to open envelopes, flatten and stack the ballots, and begin to scan the ballots, so results can be determined more quickly once tabulation begins on Election Day. It is not vote counting or early voting.

VoteSafe released a new ad featuring Sue Glovas, a Northampton County resident, a poll worker for the last eight years. Glovas is committed to ensuring Pennsylvania has a safe and secure election this Nov. 3.

As the General Assembly and Gov. Tom Wolf continue to advance their own election reform proposals, VoteSafe Pennsylvania today urged quick consensus on key issues that would give election directors the tools they need to safely and securely administer the Nov. 3 general election.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, co-chair of the bipartisan national election initiative VoteSafe, today urged the commonwealth and other states to lift the restriction on election officials from beginning to process mail-in and absentee ballots prior to the Nov. 3 general election.

VoteSafe Pennsylvania today urged lawmakers and the administration to continue negotiations on an election reform package that would give election directors the tools they need to address the challenges of administering the November election during an ongoing pandemic, when mail-in ballots are expected to reach record levels.

Professional athletes, notable sports figures, and leaders from non-profit organizations and academia have joined the VoteSafe Pennsylvania coalition to serve as community ambassadors. Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Franco Harris will serve as community ambassador chair.

Current Philadelphia City Councilman Isaiah Thomas, Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson, and former Councilwomen Donna Reed Miller, Blondell Reynolds, and Jannie Blackwell will work to raise awareness among Philadelphia voters in the upcoming months so they know what voting options are available to them under the state’s constitution and according to local election laws.

Former House Majority Leader Rep. Dave Reed & former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy will serve as co-chairmen of statewide coalition, which includes all former living PA Governors.

Following yesterday’s elections in eight states and the District of Columbia, VoteSafe Co-Chairs, former Secretary of Homeland Security and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, issued a joint statement.