CCTV, zip ties and election watchers: Inside the high-security world of US mail-in vote counting

As the US midterm elections near, BBC Verify takes you inside a Pennsylvania election center to see how mail-in ballots are processed, from signature verification to bipartisan oversight. Election workers follow strict protocols, using CCTV, tamper-evident zip ties, and locked ballot boxes to ensure security. Both Democratic and Republican observers are present to watch the process, and any ballot with a missing or mismatched signature is set aside for further review. The count is expected to take days, not hours, because of the volume of mail-in votes. This behind-the-scenes look shows the safeguards in place to protect the integrity of the vote, even as false claims of fraud circulate. Understanding these procedures is critical for voter confidence in the outcome.