The number of in-person ballots counted reflects the number of ballots cast at polling locations.
The number of precincts reporting indicates how many of Montgomery County's 426 precincts have returned their results to Voter Services. Keep in mind that Elections Officials are driving from every area of the county in order to return the results to Norristown, therefore the process to post the results usually takes several hours before it is complete.
How do Poll Workers capture the results from the ballots cast at their polling location?
After the polls close at 8 p.m., Poll Workers remove the voted ballots from the lower chamber of the scanner and print out a paper copy of the results before powering down the voting machine and sealing the equipment. A copy of these results is posted at the polling location. The memory card that captures the images of the ballots digitally is removed and transported back to the Voter Services Office by each precinct's Judge of Elections, along with every voted ballot, the poll books containing voter's signatures, and other forms & supplies.
Voter Services staff must then upload the data into the Election reporting system. Computers used for this process are never connected to the internet. They operate on a closed system that is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
Results are shared with the Department of State through a separate, secure portal.