DAUPHIN COUNTY — United States Postal Service data provided to federal courts shows that central Pennsylvania has the lowest numbers for processing inbound and outbound mail - including mailed ballots.
Outbound processing - which includes ballots sent to voters from election boards - ranges from 1.35 percent to 35 percent between Oct. 24 and Oct. 28
The USPS receiving end, or inbound processing, is doing much better. The percentage of voters sending back ballots is anywhere between 60 percent to 87 percent across a five-day period.
Central Pennsylvania has the lowest numbers for processing inbound and outbound percentages in the state, including Philadelphia and Western Pennsylvania.
Several residents in Harrisburg and surrounding communities spoke about their frustration with the slow process. Marie Kamel, who lives in Harrisburg, said that she saw ballots being thrown out on the news and decided to vote in-person.
"I feel much better to come in person," Kamel said.
Meanwhile, Carrie Barnum of Hershey said that she didn't trust the mail to get her ballot in time.
"This is too late for the mail, I'm afraid that if I mailed it today it wouldn't get there on time," Barnum said. "Even with Supreme Court proceedings I'm afraid it might not get there until three days past election day."
The Pennsylvania Department of State says that approximately 73 percent of mail-in ballots have been returned to election offices. The USPS could not be reached for comment.