>>> THIS WEEK, THE SUPREME COURT
ISSUED A PAIR OF RULINGS, ONE
FOR NORTH CAROLINA, THE OTHER
FOR ALLOWED
THE STATES TO COUNT MAIL-IN
BALLOTS FOR DAYS AFTER THE
ELECTION.
THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PLAY A BIG
ROLE IN DETERMINING WHETHER
PRESIDENT TRUMP GETS A SECOND
TERM OR JOE BIDEN MOVES INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE IN JANUARY.
HOW WILL OFFICIALS COUNT AND
CERTIFY THE RECORD NUMBER OF
MAIL-IN VOTES?
HOW SHOULD YOU THINK ABOUT THE
NUMBERS AS THEY COME IN OVER THE
COURSE OF ELECTION NIGHT?
DASHA BYRNES HAS OUR SUNDAY
FOCUS.
>> Reporter: ELECTION NIGHT
COULD BE MORE LIKE ELECTION
WEEK.
ALL THANKS TO THESE.
>> THIS INCREASE IN ABSENTEE
VOTING, THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
>> Reporter: ABSENTEE VOTING IS
NOT NEW.
SOME BATTLEGROUND STATES LIKE
MICHIGAN AND PENNSYLVANIA HAVE
RECENTLY EXPANDED THE RULES,
ALLOWING MORE VOTERS TO USE THAT
OPTION FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THAT MEANS, NEW HURDLES FOR
ELECTION WORKERS.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES
YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE FACING
RIGHT NOW?
>> JUST THE VOLUME OF ABSENTEE
REQUESTS.
IT'S REALLY PUTTING A STRAIN ON
RESOURCES.
>> Reporter: THE PROCESS IS OLD
SCHOOL AND MOST STEPS ARE DONE
BY HAND.
>> I'M PUTTING THE BALLOT WITH
THE ENVELOPE.
>> I'M ADDING INSTRUCTIONS.
>> I'M SEALING THE ENVELOPE,
PUTTING IT IN THE POSTAL BIN.
>> MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR
HELPING.
>> Reporter: HANDLING RETURNED
BALLOTS IS NO LESS LABOR
INTENSIVE.
>> SHE WILL LOOK AT THE VOTER
AND LOOK AT THE SIGNATURE.
>> Reporter: ONE MORE
VERIFICATION AND THEY ARE LOCKED
AWAY UNTIL ELECTION DAY.
THAT'S PROART OF THE PROBLEM.
FLORIDA, ARIZONA AND NORTH
CAROLINA ARE ALREADY COUNTING
THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND WILL
LIKELY HAVE RESULTS ON ELECTION
NIGHT.
BEFORE THE MUST-WIN STATES OF
MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN AND
PENNSYLVANIA, THE RULES DON'T
ALLOW THOSE BALLOTS TO BE
COUNTED UNTIL NOVEMBER 3rd.
>> IT TOOK US THREE DAYS TO OPEN
AND PROCESS 16,000 OR SO BALLOTS
FOR THE PRIMARY.
>> I WILL TIME MYSELF HERE AND
SHOW YOU THE PROCESS.
TIMER IS ON.
YOU PUT THE ENVELOPE INTO THE
ENVELOPE OPENER.
PUT THAT THROUGH.
THERE'S ANOTHER ENVELOPE IN
HERE.
THE SECRECY ENVELOPE.
OPEN THAT AS WELL.
PUT THAT THROUGH.
THEN YOU HAVE THE BALLOT IN HERE
WHICH IS ALL FOLDED UP AND TO
SCAN IT YOU NEED TO GET THE
CREASES OUT LIKE PUTTING A
DOLLAR BILL THROUGH A VENDING
MACHINE.
A LITTLE OF THIS.
THE ELECTION DIRECTOR TOLD ME
YOU CAN ROLL IT, WHICH HELPS.
ONCE IT'S MOSTLY STRAIGHTENED
OUT, THEN WE WILL ACTUALLY GO
AND PUT IT INTO THE SCANNER TO
BE SCANNED.
LET'S SEE HOW LONG THAT TOOK.
ABOUT 45 SECONDS FOR ONE BALLOT.
>> Reporter: WITH 8 MILLION
REQUESTS, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA
AND WISCONSIN WILL LIKELY LEAVE
THE COUNTRY WAITING.
MOST PATHS TO VICTORY REQUIRE
WINNING AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE
STATES, ESPECIALLY FOR PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
EVEN THE HIGH STAKES CAN'T
CHANGE THE SPEED.
>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME,
BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS VERY
METHODICAL.
THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE
PATIENT.
>> DASHA JOINS ME FROM GRAND
RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.
YOU ARE VERY HANDY WITH A VOTING
MACHINE.
WHAT A PAINSTAKING PROCESS.
TO ADD TO THIS, SOME STATES ARE
ALLOWING EXTENSIONS ON ABSENTEE
BALLOTS.
AS I SAID A MINUTE AGO,
PENNSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA CAN
COUNT VOTES RECEIVED AFTER
ELECTION DAY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE
FINAL COUNT?
>> GOOD MORNING.
THAT DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSE THE
RACE IS.
REMEMBER, THOSE BALLOTS HAVE TO
BE POSTMARKED BY NOVEMBER 3rd.
THE BULK WILL COME IN PRETTY
CLOSE TO THAT DATE.
THOSE REAL STRAGGLER BALLOTS
THAT COME IN LATER, THOSE WILL
ONLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A
CLOSE RACE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND
THAT BECAUSE IN SOME OF THE KEY
STATES THE IN-PERSON VOTE WILL
BE TABULATED MORE QUICKLY THAN
THE ABSENTEE VOTE, THERE COULD
BE A SITUATION WHERE THE
ELECTION LOOKS A CERTAIN WAY ON
ELECTION NIGHT AND THEN THE RACE
TAKES A TURN ONCE THAT ABSENTEE
VOTE COMES IN.
THERE'S NOTHING OR FRAUDULENT.
IT'S THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS.
>> A GREAT LOOK BEHIND THE
SCENES OF THAT