Pennsylvania Republicans have been increasingly supporting the use of mail-in ballots, despite the party’s history of opposition to the process.

Article by Victoria Newsome, Junior Election Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA - In the past, Pennsylvania Republicans have refused to use mail-in ballots in elections, but they have gradually changed their minds in favor of mail-in ballots. Many U.S. citizens enjoy the experience of walking in, standing in line, and voting in person, while others want to try a different method.

“After last year’s experience, where the mail-in ballots just overwhelmed our votes at the polls, our party has really wrapped around this and is taking it on very strongly,” Lawrence Tabas, chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, mentioned in the podcast Battleground Politics.

The deadline to request mail-in ballots was last Tuesday, Oct. 31st. Therefore, as of 8 A.M. Friday, the most relevant data available, at the time of publication, the Department of State said 651,848 ballots out of a combined 1,026,653 provided were returned — 474,115 from Democrats, 132,640 from Republicans, and 45,093 from independents.

In recent elections, Republican candidates fell short in recent elections with Democrats overturning 12 House districts and victorious key seats in the U.S. Senate and Governor’s office. About four years ago in Pennsylvania, mail-in balloting became law. Ever since, Democrats have mainly embraced the use of mail-in voting, because many Democratic voters are used to voting that way. Democratic voters seemed to be comfortable in the practice of mail-in balloting to the point where they never had to question the security of their vote.

Tabas declared that the Republican party is looking to bridge this divide in future elections. They are looking to launch a “Bank Your Vote”; campaign over the summer of 2024, intended to encourage voters to “vote by mail or early in-person, and ballot harvest where permitted.”

Mail-in ballots are becoming more favored to the point that even former president Donald Trump, has completely shifted his stance. In 2020, Trump went as far as suing the City of Philadelphia over mail-in balloting.

In a promotional video for his campaign, Trump tells potential U.S. voters that, “we may not like the current system. But, we need to master the rules and beat the Democrats at their own game. And then, we can make our rules,” via GOP’s YouTube.

According to the PA Department of State, more than 1 million voters in Pennsylvania have requested and received main-in or absentee ballots. With four remaining until the deadline on Election Day, nearly 64% have been returned.

With the 2024 election season just a year away, this is important to remember when deciding to go to the polls in person on Nov. 7th or vote by mail-in ballots. As more Republicans are pushing to use mail-in ballots, Democrats aim to encourage new voters to register, who may have not been eligible to vote four years ago. Voter registration and requesting mail-in ballots are key to getting voters, old and new, involved in democracy.

Yesterday, Tuesday, Nov. 7th was Election Day, the day for traditional in-person voting. Polls open at 7 A.M. When polls close at 8 P.M., the deadline for mail-in and absentee ballots will come to a close.