# About mail-in ballots **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 1, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997 "2020-08-01T16:46:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/21 "2020-08-02T01:02:00Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Well the fact they’re _printed_ with > [X] Trump > > [\_\_] Who? > > will be a big giveaway. No, they’ll say: [] Donald Trump [] Donald J. Trump [] D.J. Trump [] Dear Leader (I didn’t know how to put spaces between the brackets.) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/22 "2020-08-02T01:30:29Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I expect other all-VbM states do something similar. On thinking it over, it wouldn’t surprise me if Clark and Multnomah Counties do ballot exchanges with each other too. They wouldn’t have to, since Clark County is in Washington and Multnomah is in Oregon, but they may anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/23 "2020-08-02T01:46:45Z")
Washington state has mail-in balloting since 2005. For the 2016 general (presidential) election there were 74 possible cases of improper voting out of 3.36 million ballots cast. That means the overall rate of suspected voter fraud statewide was 0.002 percent. For the 2018 general election there were 142 possible cases of improper voting out of 3.1 million ballots cast. That means the overall rate of suspected voter fraud statewide was 0.004 percent. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/24 "2020-08-02T01:56:12Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > No, they’ll say: > > [] Donald Trump > > [] Donald J. Trump > > [] D.J. Trump > > [] Dear Leader > > (I didn’t know how to put spaces between the brackets.) Try this: Donald … D. J. T. (etc.) Real ballot check-boxes! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/25 "2020-08-02T01:57:04Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > cases of improper voting Yes, and that often is due to voting in place of a recently deceased spouse rather than “fraud” as Trump is imputing. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/26 "2020-08-02T02:00:25Z")
I would not expect roving bands of brigands dumping water (or sulfuric acid) into drop boxes in politically-disfavored neighborhoods or otherwise vandalizing them. I don’t think drop boxes are left out unattended anywhere, or shouldn’t be anyway. They tend to be located at libraries, city hall, fire stations, police stations and the like. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/27 "2020-08-02T02:25:01Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Try this: > Donald … > D. J. T. > (etc.) > Real ballot check-boxes! You forgot to tell ThelmaLou how to do that: just put the brackets together, without the space between them Cheeto-Faced ShitGibbon Individual-ONE Inanimate Carbon Rod Kumquat ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/28 "2020-08-02T02:32:26Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > You forgot to tell ThelmaLou how to do that: just put the brackets together, without the space between them All anyone has to do, to see how someone else did something tricky, is reply to it and see what was typed. Then cancel your reply. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/29 "2020-08-02T02:45:33Z")
Cool X 2! 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/30 "2020-08-02T14:23:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I hope you’re not suggesting that people could use this approach (signing up for absentee voting as an overseas US citizen, and then sending in ballots on plain paper) to cheat in elections. Because I’ll bet that only a handful of people in your county have such an arrangement with the county clerk. It would be really suspicious if all of a sudden hundreds tried to set up such an arrangement, claiming they live in your county. No suggestion of cheating. I believe in one person, one vote. Also, as long as I am have to be compliant with U.S. tax law, I am voting. However, due to my last place of residence, it is quite likely that there are a few hundred people voting from out of the country, as there are quite a few international companies in NJ. Plus there’s a military base in my county, and deployed military also vote in the same manner. I expect that this number is relatively constant, though I know many people decided to vote in 2016 who had previously not bothered. I just looked at the main town in my county, and 1/10 votes were mailed in, in 2016. My township was quite a bit lower. When I register (start with [https://www.fvap.gov/](https://www.fvap.gov/)) to vote, I have to provide the last four digits of my social security number and the address of my last residence in the U.S., along with my name, date of birth, current address, etc. Also, as an overseas voter, I am only permitted to vote for the federal offices. That means I cannot vote for the county sherrif, state governor, etc. I think this varies by state. And, trust me, the I.R.S. definitely knows where I live. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/31 "2020-08-02T17:17:48Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > (I didn’t know how to put spaces between the brackets.) I discovered the same thing, hence the underline within the box. And I don’t think Dear Leader would trust them to put the X in by his name. There is such a thing as undervoting, you know. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/32 "2020-08-02T17:23:08Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > he was frankly shocked at how few Americans avail themselves of the privilege of voting. Which is what led to our current troubles. Last election roughly a third of people voted for Trump, a third for Clinton, and a third didn’t vote at all. I can only hope the Apathy Party has learned its lesson. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/33 "2020-08-02T17:47:40Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Which is what led to our current troubles. Agreed. I think it was something like 108 million people in this country did not bother to vote in 2016. They cynic in me has often thought that the best way to repress Republican votes would be to simply make voting compulsory as it is in other nations. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/34 "2020-08-02T18:51:50Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I think it was something like 108 million people in this country did not bother to vote in 2016. How many of them were prevented–or strongly discouraged by not wanting to wait in line for five hours–from voting? I also vote from abroad and print out my own ballot, complete with postage-paid envelope valid only in the US. This year for the first time they asked for a signature when I requested a ballot. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/35 "2020-08-02T18:56:33Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > How many of them were prevented–or strongly discouraged by not wanting to wait in line for five hours–from voting? In 2016? Probably not as many as in 2018. And turnout improved in 2018 over past mid-term elections. I understand your point, though. When Dems prevail in 2020, I hope they take steps to eliminate as much voter suppression as they can. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/36 "2020-08-02T19:19:58Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > … if 20% of registered voters who could show up at the polls don’t actually show up at the polls, that leaves an awful lot of uncast ballots that could be stuffed without breaking your equation that “X voters registered = x ballots received means no shenanigans.” What century are you living in? Voter turnout has been in the 50% range for ten decades. Between about 1830 and 1920, the US saw ~80% turnout, then it fell off a cliff. Oddly, the drop in turnout seems to coincide with the passage of the 19th Amendment – not sure what to make of that. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/37 "2020-08-02T20:13:44Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > They cynic in me has often thought that the best way to repress Republican votes would be to simply make voting compulsory as it is in other nations. Brilliant!! > [@eschereal](#): > > What century are you living in? Voter turnout has been in the 50% range for ten decades. Between about 1830 and 1920, the US saw ~80% turnout, then it fell off a cliff. Oddly, the drop in turnout seems to coincide with the passage of the 19th Amendment – not sure what to make of that. Note I’m talking about percentage of _registered_ voters who don’t vote and you’re talking about percentage of _eligible_ voters who don’t vote. Two very different numbers. The vast majority of members of the Apathy Party (ref @DesertDog) aren’t registered. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/38 "2020-08-02T22:27:17Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Plus there’s a military base in my county, and deployed military also vote in the same manner. Plenty of military voters who are not deployed vote absentee in their home of record or state of legal residence which may be different from where they are currently stationed. Another thing I must mention (I think I’ve posted this on the boards before), but one of the whines I’ve heard or read from certain Republicans is “they’re registered to vote in more than one place”. No kidding. Have you ever moved after you’ve registered to vote? I certainly have and so have a lot of other people. Did you ever “unregister to vote” in the old locale? Me neither. It doesn’t matter how many places you’re registered. What matters is how many places you cast your vote. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/39 "2020-08-03T01:33:28Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Did you ever “unregister to vote” in the old locale? I once tried to do this. Or rather I asked if I had to. But since I’d just moved from one county to another in the same state, it turned out I didn’t have to. Hey, I’m a programmer. It’s only logical to unregister to vote when you move. If we programmed computers with failures to do the equivalent, there’d be bugs and crashes all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997/40 "2020-08-03T01:50:54Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > If we programmed computers with failures to do the equivalent, there’d be bugs and crashes all over the place. There are bugs and crashes all over the place. What’s that tell us about you programmers? 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-mail-in-ballots/916997.md?page=3)