Why? Why not do the pre-canvass prior to election day? What's wrong with verifying eligibility, via whatever legally mandated process, then holding the ballot

Why? Why not do the pre-canvass prior to election day? What's wrong with verifying eligibility, via whatever legally mandated process, then holding the ballots. Or pre-tabulating them? The latter is what San Francisco does. The mail in ballots are verified, and put into a tabulating machine specifically for the precinct. It holds the cards securely in a locked bin, and on election night, preliminary results can be pulled off the tabulation machine and combined with the in-person votes. I am an elections clerk in San Francisco, and familiar with the processes. I say this is secure, and easy to verify and re-verify and saves a ton of effort on election day. Where is your evidence that what you suggest is more secure, or important for... some reason? I don't think you realize that during election day, the ballot cards are 'counted' (tabulated) during the day, all day. The scanning machine on site is tabulating the cards, then at the end of the day it's a simple matter of pulling the final tally after the last vote, both via paper print out and electronic media (CF cards). There is no "end of day counting" - just closing procedures, and clean up.