Presidential Elections Are Never Finalized on Election Day
- The day that citizens cast their ballots (or the end of the voting period) is only one step in our process of electing a president.
- When Americans vote for presidential candidates, we are actually voting for electors from our state who go on to vote in the Electoral College in December of the presidential election year.
- The process of certifying vote totals can take a long time, especially in close races. Voters should be prepared to wait for a final outcome, if need be.
Efforts to Secure Elections Against Fraud Are Not Motivated By Hostility to Voting Rights
- We must ensure that elections are secure against voter fraud and voter suppression. This should be a bipartisan goal. Every legitimate vote should count.
- We want everyone who is eligible to vote to be able to do so without unnecessary barriers, but we also cannot allow legitimate voters to have the power of their preferences weakened by fraud, abuse, and political machinations like ballot harvesting.
- It’s critical that Americans be able to trust that, in the election process, their votes are not cancelled out by fraud and illegitimate ballots.
Changes to Voting Processes Intended to Mitigate Public Health Concerns May Open The Door to Increased Voter Fraud
- Counting mail ballots accurately and keeping polling places safe pose special challenges for states in this unusual year.
- Nine states and the District of Columbia sent ballots to all registered voters ahead of the 2020 election, and many states are making it easier to request a ballot to vote by mail this year, but the changes may come with serious risks to election integrity.
- It is well-documented that mail-in ballots increase the risk of fraud, abuse, and mistakes in counting vote totals.
Click here to read the full policy focus and learn more about elections integrity during a pandemic.