Mail-in ballots, a staple of American elections, have been in the spotlight this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings. And with renewed focus on mail-in voting has come a mountain of misinformation. We’ve collected Snopes fact checks about mail-in voting and early voting here.
Voting By Mail? Double-Check Your State’s Deadlines Right Now
The U.S. Postal Service warned that, if you’re voting by mail, waiting until the deadline to apply for or return a ballot may cut it too close.
The Mail-In Ballot Collection
The ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic means voting by mail will play a key role in the 2020 general election.
Do Mail-In Ballots Increase Risk of Voter Fraud?
U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly made the claim as states scrambled to establish new elections rules during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Did USPS Tell Americans to Send Mail-In Ballots 2 Weeks in Advance?
The USPS does recommend requesting ballots at least 15 days in advance and mailing them at least a week before the election.
Is USPS Purposefully Slowing Mail To Help Reelect Trump?
U.S. Postal Service workers nationwide reported backlogs of letters and packages in summer 2020. But was the issue political?
Did a Pennsylvania Voter Receive Two Usable Ballots?
"Even if a person receives multiple ballots, only one return ballot can be counted," according to Allegheny County.
Did US Only Have 143 Absentee-Ballot Fraud Convictions Over 20 Years?
However you slice these numbers, documented examples of such fraud appear to be rare.
Is Amazon Offering Free 1-Day Shipping for Ballots?
A routine review of content labeled satire.
Was an Indiana Woman Arrested on Suspicion of Voter Fraud in 2020?
While both are election crimes, there is a difference between modifying mail-in ballots and modifying applications for ballots.
Did 28 Million Mail-In Ballots Go ‘Missing’ in Last Four Elections?
"Conflating voters choosing not to cast their ballot with 'missing' ballots is a fundamental flaw," a vote-at-home advocacy group argued.
Were 83 Ballots Fraudulently Mailed to One Calif. Home?
Social media posts in May 2020 claimed the incident was an example of the ballot-casting system's vulnerability to voter fraud.
Has President Trump Ever Voted by Mail?
As Trump criticized voting by mail, some social media users shined a light on the president's own voting record.
Department of Justice Says Efforts to Stop Voter Fraud Are Illegal?
The DOJ issued a statement saying that voter intimidation is against federal law, not that accusations of voter fraud are illegal.
Did Texas Discover 58,000 Cases of Voter Fraud by Non-Citizens?
"Any illegal vote deprives Americans of their voice."
Were 20,000 Fake IDs Seized at Chicago Airport Part of a Voter-Fraud Scheme?
Fake driver’s licenses grabbed by customs officials since early 2020 became subjects of voting-related rumors.
Were USPS Mailboxes Removed in Oregon?
The number of U.S. Postal Service collection boxes overall has fallen by at least 60% since the 1980s.
Did Trump Call USPS ‘Most Corrupt and Anti-American Way of Voting’?
The U.S. president has expressed many (and varied) feelings about mail-in voting.
The 2020 Election Collection: Fact-Checking the Presidential Race
Claims, hoaxes, and misinformation abound. Snopes investigates the claims of the 2020 U.S. Election.