The Hidden Cost of Voting by Mail

Have you ever wondered what happens to votes that don't make it to the ballot box? With the increase in mail-in voting, there's a growing concern about "lost votes by mail. " These are votes that never get counted due to procedural issues. Let's break down how these problems can eat away at the voting process. First, not all rejected mail ballots are recorded. This means some votes simply vanish without a trace. Second, sometimes people manage to vote successfully after their mail ballot is rejected, especially if they're notified in time. Lastly, some folks might not even bother sending in their mail ballots if they think it'll be rejected.

The tricky part is measuring these lost votes. Rejected mail ballots could either overestimate or underestimate the actual number of lost votes. A recent study in Pennsylvania's 2022 general election found that there were at least 47% more lost votes than rejected mail ballots. This is a big deal, especially in a state like Pennsylvania where mail ballots are common and partisan splits on voting methods are significant. So, next time you think about voting by mail, remember that not all votes are created equal. There's a chance some might get lost along the way.

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