Some Officials Call for Early Ballot Processing before Election Day

Election officials across the U.S. have been sounding the alarm that the country may need to wait longer than usual to know the winner of the presidential election.

But in key battleground states, some officials are calling for a change to begin processing absentee ballots before Election Day, which they say could speed up the results in November, according to CBS News campaign reporters Adam Brewster and Zak Hudak.

At least 18 states allow mail ballot processing before Election Day, beyond just signature matching, according to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. But that doesn't mean they'll have a tabulated number ahead of the election.

However, depending on the state, officials are able to open envelopes or even matching ballot numbers against poll books -- giving them a head start on Election Day.

But Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin -- three states that could decide the presidency -- must wait.

Each of these states were decided by razor-thin margins in 2016, and each has seen unprecedented increases in mail-in voting in primaries this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local election officials say they're facing an overwhelming workload that could be eased by early processing, and some say they won't have conclusive results on November 3 unless they can begin opening ballots early.

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