we want to make sure every vote is counted

This is such a stupid concept that nobody should have ever been allowed to argue. No, it's like a race and all the votes must come in at the finish line. No late votes. The end.

If the state is taking too long to count votes, people need to be punished.

If there's blatant fuckery by one side to "hide votes", and then you throw the whole thing out and start again.