Why does Pennsylvania not allow processing of ballots until Election Day?

[Ms. Toad]

7. That's a different question.

There are several stages of processing absentee ballots.

1. Validating the signatures/identity - this does not expose any more voter information than the publically available "check the status of your ballot."

2. Opening the inside envelope and scanning the ballot. This reveals moderatly more information - but very generically. The people opening the ballots (assuming it is not automated) might notice general trends. But nothing useful.

3. Tabulating the count - no jurisdiciton that I'm aware of even permits this before the close of the polls on election day.

Most jurisdictions permit step 1 (and often step 2) days or weeks in advance - which is why the earliest totals you see are generally absentee.

It is assinine to prohibit #1 until the day of (which PA does). That is the most time consuming part of the process and can be done without disclosing any of the information you suggest might be driving the policy.