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| US election: Do postal ballots lead to voting fraud? | US election: Do postal ballots lead to voting fraud? |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Many US states are looking to make voting by post easier in the presidential election this November due to public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. | Many US states are looking to make voting by post easier in the presidential election this November due to public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. |
| But the expansion of postal voting is contentious, and President Donald Trump has said postal ballots - know as "mail-in" ballots in the US - would lead to "the most corrupt election" in US history. | But the expansion of postal voting is contentious, and President Donald Trump has said postal ballots - know as "mail-in" ballots in the US - would lead to "the most corrupt election" in US history. |
| We've looked at the evidence and found very few cases of postal voting fraud. | We've looked at the evidence and found very few cases of postal voting fraud. |
| Where can you vote by post? | Where can you vote by post? |
| In the 2016 US presidential election, nearly one quarter of votes were cast by post, and that number is expected to rise this time round. | In the 2016 US presidential election, nearly one quarter of votes were cast by post, and that number is expected to rise this time round. |
| Individual US states control their own voting rules for federal elections - and many are looking to increase postal voting to prevent large gatherings at polling stations on election day. | Individual US states control their own voting rules for federal elections - and many are looking to increase postal voting to prevent large gatherings at polling stations on election day. |
| There are now six states planning to hold "all-mail" ballot elections this November - after California recently joined Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon and Washington - and more could follow. | There are now six states planning to hold "all-mail" ballot elections this November - after California recently joined Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon and Washington - and more could follow. |
| These states will automatically send all registered voters postal ballots, which then have to be sent back or dropped off on election day - although some in-person voting is still available in certain limited circumstances. | These states will automatically send all registered voters postal ballots, which then have to be sent back or dropped off on election day - although some in-person voting is still available in certain limited circumstances. |
| About half of US states allow any registered voter to vote by post on request. | About half of US states allow any registered voter to vote by post on request. |
| In the remaining states you have to have a valid reason for voting by post - such as being over 65, being ill, or being away from the state you are registered to vote in. | In the remaining states you have to have a valid reason for voting by post - such as being over 65, being ill, or being away from the state you are registered to vote in. |
| Notably, President Trump has voted by post in the past, such as in Florida's 2020 primary election as he is a registered voter in the state but is living in Washington DC. | Notably, President Trump has voted by post in the past, such as in Florida's 2020 primary election as he is a registered voter in the state but is living in Washington DC. |
| What evidence is there of fraud? | What evidence is there of fraud? |
| President Trump has said: "You get thousands and thousands of people sitting in somebody's living room, signing ballots all over the place." | President Trump has said: "You get thousands and thousands of people sitting in somebody's living room, signing ballots all over the place." |
| Critics say people could vote more than once via absentee ballots and in person. | Critics say people could vote more than once via absentee ballots and in person. |
| But there is no evidence of widespread fraud, according to numerous nationwide and state-level studies over the years. | But there is no evidence of widespread fraud, according to numerous nationwide and state-level studies over the years. |
| There have been isolated cases of postal ballot fraud in the past, such as in the 2018 North Carolina primary, which was re-run after a consultant of the Republican candidate tampered with voting papers. | There have been isolated cases of postal ballot fraud in the past, such as in the 2018 North Carolina primary, which was re-run after a consultant of the Republican candidate tampered with voting papers. |
| There was also a case earlier this year in New Jersey which saw two Democratic councillors charged with alleged fraud in relation to postal voting, after hundreds of ballots were found stuffed in a post box. | There was also a case earlier this year in New Jersey which saw two Democratic councillors charged with alleged fraud in relation to postal voting, after hundreds of ballots were found stuffed in a post box. |
| But these are rare incidents, and the rate of voting fraud overall in the US is between 0.00004% and 0.0009%, according to a 2017 study by the Brennan Center for Justice. | But these are rare incidents, and the rate of voting fraud overall in the US is between 0.00004% and 0.0009%, according to a 2017 study by the Brennan Center for Justice. |
| A voter fraud database collated by Arizona State University between 2000 and 2012, found 491 cases of postal ballot fraud out of hundreds of millions of votes. | A voter fraud database collated by Arizona State University between 2000 and 2012, found 491 cases of postal ballot fraud out of hundreds of millions of votes. |
| And a Washington Post review of the 2016 election found one proven case of postal voting fraud. | And a Washington Post review of the 2016 election found one proven case of postal voting fraud. |
| Oregon has held postal elections since 2000 and has only reported 14 fraudulent votes attempted by mail. | Oregon has held postal elections since 2000 and has only reported 14 fraudulent votes attempted by mail. |
| There are provisions in place to prevent people from impersonating voters or stealing ballots - such as authorities checking that ballots have come from voters' registered address and requiring signatures on envelopes. | |
| There have been suggestions that an increase in postal voting would help turnout among Democratic voters, but there is no strong evidence that either party would gain an advantage. | There have been suggestions that an increase in postal voting would help turnout among Democratic voters, but there is no strong evidence that either party would gain an advantage. |
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