Golden State won the NBA championship because they had the most passes. The logic is ridiculous. Everyone knows the rules and if the rules were popular vote then Trump would have played the game differently. Hillary lost in landslide!
In Florida, the absentee ballots are the FIRST ballots counted, generally on the day before the general election. They are opened, counted, and certified, with poll watchers on hand, in secured rooms.
This method or similar methods are common and typical in most states. Then the early votes, where allowed, are certified, often again before Election Day. That gets all decks cleared for the Election Day voting, and the review and certification of the few absentee ballots that trickle in on Election Day.
Yes, all votes are counted.
What usually doesn’t get counted are the ‘provisional’ ballots. Most of these do not get counted as they caster cannot be certified as a registered voter.