Today’s Links
Associated Press: No major problems with ballot drop boxes in 2020, AP finds
Law Fare: The Rise of Ballot Drop Boxes Due to the Coronavirus
Brennan Center: Voting Laws Roundup: May 2022
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Recently we reported that the Wisconsin Supreme Court revoked use of ballot drop boxes in the state, and several other states have proposed legislation that limit, complicate, or eliminate their use, claiming they were a source of widespread fraud. The Associated Press just reviewed the use of drop boxes in the 2020 election, and didn’t find anything that affected the election.
The AP contacted top election officials in all but five states, asking whether their drop boxes were tied to fraudulent votes or stolen ballots, or whether the boxes and the ballots they contained were damaged. Of the states which allowed drop boxes, none experienced issues which would have affected the outcome of the election.
Massachusetts and California each experienced a case of arson in drop boxes, but most of the ballots were salvaged and voters were able to cast new ballots.
The AP points out how Big Lie disinformation impacted the legitimacy of drop boxes. North Carolina had no drop boxes in 2020, yet allegations were made that they played a role in the outcome of the election there.
The rapid expansion of drop boxes was due in part to preventable processing changes at the US Postal Service, as voters sought confidence in their ability to deliver their ballot on time. One voter interviewed by the AP stated, “Isn’t a mailbox a secure place to put a letter? Why would a drop box be any different?”
The AP’s article and additional data on drop boxes are available at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. Granny D said “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.” For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.