PENNSYLVANIA, United States — The counting of returned ballots has begun in Philadelphia in high-stake Pennsylvania in the United States election on Tuesday.

Unlike some other states, ballot counting isn’t allowed in Pennsylvania until the day of the election.

Officials at the Philadelphia City Commissioners office said the counting started at 7:00 am and at the close of voting at 8:00 pm updates on counting results are expected to be released a minute later at 8:01 pm.

Up to 6:42 pm on Monday, 240,410 mail ballots were issued in Philadelphia. Emergency applications are also still being done for mail in ballots. So far officials say 180,636 ballots have been returned.

Observers including from the two major political parties – Democrats and Republican – are at the Commissioners office to ensure legitimacy during the count.

Officials say mail in ballots have a unique barcode to help with signature verification, and to ensure voters only vote once.

The importance of Pennsylvania to the result of Tuesday’s United States election was further highlighted on Monday with both US Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democratic party candidate and Republican former President Donald Trump engaging in last minute campaigning there.

Pennsylvania is considered most crucial as it has 19 electoral college votes, the most at stake across the seven most hotly contested swing states with the other six being: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin. There are just over 9 million eligible voters in Pennsylvania.

READ: All eyes on high-stake Pennsylvania

— Kasey Williams