We used the same procedure when I was an election judge. There were always watchers. There was also a "two-man rule" for every other aspect of ballot handling by the judges. The two judges had to be of different parties.
Obviously they are not following these procedures in PA.
I worked during an election, two of us at each table, from different political parties, had to agree to count the absentee mail in ballot or not. There was only one we didn’t count. We called the boss over and she agreed to toss it out. The signature on the ballot didn’t match the signature on the application for the ballot. It was HARD to throw that vote away. SO HARD! I fought to keep it but the two other OLD ladies agreed to toss it. One was R, the other was D. But they are very strict about this IF they have an honest Boss Watcher
“ballot handling by the judges.”
Yes. Exactly. There had to be a pair of R & D for every step along the way, and every board/panel. Counting and Receiving Board, Facsimile Board, Data Processing Review Board, etc. And everything was done out in the open in a large room so anyone could come in and watch.
If I were Elections Coordinator now, I’d be tearing my hair out. Actually, that’s moot; I wouldn’t BE Elections Coordinator now. Everything is so insane and crooked.