How many mail in ballots are rejected
The number of mail-in ballots rejected varies from election to election and from state to state. However, I can provide some general information and statistics on the topic.
According to a 2020 report by the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan public policy and law institute, in the 2018 midterm elections, approximately 2.5% of mail-in ballots were rejected nationwide. This translates to around 1.4 million rejected ballots out of a total of 56.6 million mail-in ballots cast.
The same report found that the rejection rate varied significantly by state, ranging from 0.2% in Oregon to 12.1% in Texas. Some of the most common reasons for rejection included:
- Missing or mismatched signatures (34.6% of rejections)
- Incomplete or missing information (24.1% of rejections)
- Voter registration issues (14.5% of rejections)
- Ballot not properly sealed or tampered with (6.3% of rejections)
- Ballot received after the deadline (5.5% of rejections)
A 2020 analysis by the Pew Research Center found that the rejection rate for mail-in ballots was higher in states with more restrictive voting laws. The analysis also found that the rejection rate was higher in states with more older voters, who are more likely to vote by mail.
It's worth noting that the rejection rate for mail-in ballots can have a disproportionate impact on certain groups of voters, such as:
- Low-income voters, who may be more likely to vote by mail due to lack of transportation or mobility issues.
- Older voters, who may be more likely to vote by mail due to mobility issues or lack of access to polling stations.
- Voters with disabilities, who may face barriers to voting in person.
To mitigate these issues, many states and local election officials are working to improve the mail-in voting process, including increasing voter education and outreach, improving ballot design and instructions, and implementing more robust signature verification processes.