The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a number of states to expand access to mail-in ballots. To date, more than 51 million mail-in ballots have been cast in the U.S. presidential election.
While in previous American elections, most voters have cast their ballots in person, mail-in voting has a long history in the United States. The practice dates back to the Civil War, when soldiers were given the opportunity to vote from the battlefield.
In five states (Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) vote-by-mail is the primary method of voting. All of the remaining states, along with Washington D.C., offer the option of mail-in ballots, though some states require voters to provide a valid reason why they cannot vote in person.
How are mail-in ballots secured? What about fraud? What are lost votes?
Find answers on the Caltech Science Exchange.
