2020 mail in ballots

The 2020 United States presidential election was the first federal election in which mail-in ballots were used on a large scale. Here are some key facts about mail-in ballots in the 2020 election:

States that allowed mail-in ballots:

• 34 states and the District of Columbia allowed mail-in ballots in the 2020 election.
• Some states, such as California, Oregon, and Washington, have a long history of using mail-in ballots, while others, such as New York and New Jersey, allowed them for the first time in 2020.

Mail-in ballot rules:

• Each state had its own rules and deadlines for requesting and returning mail-in ballots.
• Some states required voters to request a mail-in ballot, while others automatically sent them to registered voters.
• Some states allowed voters to request a mail-in ballot online, while others required them to request it by mail or in person.

Mail-in ballot turnout:

• According to the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC), more than 65 million mail-in ballots were cast in the 2020 election, which is about 25% of all votes cast.
• Mail-in ballots accounted for a larger share of the vote in some states, such as Oregon (70%), Washington (60%), and Colorado (55%).

Challenges and controversies:

• There were reports of mail-in ballot issues in several states, including delays in processing and counting ballots, as well as concerns about voter fraud.
• Some states, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, faced legal challenges over their mail-in ballot rules and deadlines.
• There were also concerns about the security and integrity of mail-in ballots, with some experts warning about the potential for fraud and tampering.

Impact on the election:

• The use of mail-in ballots in the 2020 election was a major factor in the outcome of the presidential race, with President-elect Joe Biden winning several key states, including Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, by narrow margins.
• Mail-in ballots also played a significant role in the outcome of several congressional and state legislative races.

Lessons learned:

• The 2020 election highlighted the need for states to improve their mail-in ballot systems, including increasing funding for election administration and implementing more robust security measures.
• The election also underscored the importance of voter education and outreach, particularly for voters who may be new to mail-in voting.
• Some experts have called for the expansion of mail-in voting to more states, as well as the implementation of automatic voter registration and same-day registration.