AP photo Election workers process mail-in ballots for the 2024 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in West Chester, Pa.

All eyes were on Pennsylvania on the eve of Election Day. In Pittsburgh, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump made a final pitch that evening knowing how valuable the 19 electoral college votes could be for each candidate.

On Nov. 4, the state was greatly in play. Many Pennsylvanians would be casting their ballot on Election Day — Nov. 5.

Though that added up to great drama, it also allowed for troubles. With the Keystone State possibly playing prominently in the choice for the next president, locations were impacted by bomb threats that turned out to be hoaxes. Other swing states, including Arizona, Michigan and Georgia, had similar issues.

During an evening news conference on Election Day, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro told the Associated Press the hoaxes posed no danger to the public — or to the election. “Every legal, eligible vote will be counted and counted accurately, and the will of the people in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be respected,” said Shapiro, a Democrat.

Neither Shapiro nor Pennsylvania State Police had details about who might be behind the hoaxes.

In the end, incoming President Donald Trump really did not need the state’s support. But who would have guessed only 24 hours earlier?

Pennsylvania had been hotly contested — and rightly so. The state of 13 million residents has a lot more balance than New York. Its rural and mid-sized communities have a tradition of swaying red. Its major cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which are likely to have a strong Democratic base, are more fickle when it comes to the presidency as well as the governor.

Trump may have ultimately won Pennsylvania, but Shapiro has his share of support as well. Bottom line: Pennsylvania votes for the candidate, not the party. That is refreshing.

What is worrisome, however, is the state’s lack of ambition with early voting. Right now, the only way for Pennsylvania residents to cast a ballot before the election is through the mail.

That’s a trip back to the 20th century. New York state, for all its flaws, is doing it the right way.

Those who want to cast a ballot before the official day have nine days to do so. This year, record numbers took advantage of the process.

As an example, Chautauqua County reported that 33% of all registered voters had cast a ballot before Nov. 5 — either through mail or early voting at four polling locations.

This past election, retiring Election Commissioner Brian Abram said, had 17,046 registered voters making a decision during the nine-day window. That was up from 14,279 in 2020 — the last presidential election.

“In 2020, early voting was very new. I think there were people who were apprehensive, and we had a COVID issue going on where I don’t think people were comfortable at that point,” Abram said.

All told, about 54,800 voted in the county. That’s about 31% who took advantage.

Other Western New York counties had similar record results. The Buffalo News reported that in Niagara County, nearly 33,000 voted early, a record, and an increase of more than 12,000 from four years ago. Cattaraugus County also reported its highest early voter turnout. Erie County, N.Y., was not as eager with 151,509 this year, compared with 169,134 early votes in 2020.

Mail-in early balloting in Warren County, Pa., is nowhere near as impressive. Only 4,100 cast early ballots of a total of more than 20,500 total voters. That’s about 20%.

How many of those other 16,000 would have voted earlier if they had the polling option? Would those who did not get to the polls on Nov. 5 have done so with another option?

Bomb hoaxes led to chaos at some locations on Election Day throughout the Commonwealth. Clearfield County, two hours away from Warren, extended the voting time an additional hour due to a threat.

Thank goodness the interference did not impact the overall results. But Pennsylvania could do better, just by looking to New York state.

Voters there have 10 days to choose from to cast a ballot at a polling location. That’s a much better option than mail — or only one day.

John D’Agostino is editor of the Times Observer, The Post-Journal and OBSERVER in Dunkirk, N.Y. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 814-723-8200, ext. 253.