Voters continue to form very long lines at the election office in the Erie County Courthouse.

Some are just trying to vote early, instead of at the polls on November 5th.

Others are there to get answers and ballots, because their requested mail in ballots still have not arrived at their homes, or in some cases at their colleges. "I drove 3 and a half hours from college to get here so that I could vote in person because my in ballot didn't show up in the mail," Paul Canfield told us.  "I've been in line for three hours...well close to three hours, and I was planning on getting to my class later today...but that's not going to happen."

Still others may be among the 295 voters Erie News Now reported on last week, who are affected by a duplicate ballot error that Clerk of Elections Karen Chillcott said was caused by the county's mail house vendor, Election IQ, based in Akron, Ohio. 

That issue cause some people to receive ballots that had their name on the outer envelope, but someone else's name and ballot on the inside.  Sometimes the errant ballots arrived after voters had received their own mail ballots, and other times they received the wrong ballot while still waiting for their own.

While the election office is still working to contact all of those voters, and clean up that problem, Election IQ has been asked to mail out an official letter signed by Erie County Board of Elections Chairman Andre Horton, with an envelope inside and instructions to mail back those mistaken ballots.

Meantime, Chillcott said the election office was made aware that at least 750 mail ballots were somehow sent to the wrong post office and stalled there for a time.  But with the volume of people coming in still waiting for mail ballots, they suspect there are more mail ballots misplaced. 

Chillcott said an audit is now underway. "We worked all weekend long. We came in today and everyone's in good spirits, you know trying to put on a good face, but underneath it all we're very disappointed. We want this to go well for everybody, for our office, for the voters for the candidates -- we feel like it's unfair to be in this situation.  We want to provide a remedy for people and we can't provide all the answers until the audit's been completed," Chillcott said. "We're working with the Pennsylvania Department of State. we've also engaged the Governor's Office, USPS. We're trying to work with all parties to get to the bottom of this," she added.

Erie News Now reporter Jacob Brooks was among the voters in those long lines because he had yet to receive his mail in ballot.  After a four hour and forty minute wait, his registration was verified, he was given an in person mail ballot, he filled it out and cast his votes early.  A short time later, the PA Department of State website already showed that his original mail ballot was canceled and that he voted.

Chillcott said her staff is doing all they can to address each voters needs and concerns, whether they're waiting for a mail in or absentee ballot, or somehow received the wrong ballot, but she understands why voters are worried. "I understand why voters might not have confidence if they received a message a couple of weeks ago saying that their ballot was on its way and they haven't received it," she said.  "There's only so many days left between now and the election.  We've been asking people to be patient but at what point are you going to be frustrated and concerned that you can't vote?" she added.

By PA Law, Tuesday October 29 is the last day to vote early in person in the commonwealth.  

But registered voters still have many options:

Voters can still be given an emergency ballot, if they can demonstrate that they will not be able to go to the polls in person on election day.

Voters can fill out their mail ballot and take it to the county drop box, outside the courthouse if that ballot should arrive between now and election day.  It must be in the box before 8:00 p.m. on November 5.

Voters who planned to vote by mail can vote in person at their polling place on election day, by remitting all portions of their mail ballot if they receive it, or by voting provisionally if they don't have a mail ballot to remit.