Because they are difficult to secure. There are multiple ballots, ballot harvesting, and chain of custody issues.
1. The "Multiple Ballots" Concern
The fear here is that if a state mails a ballot to every registered voter, thousands of ballots will sit in apartment lobbies, get sent to old addresses, or allow people to vote multiple times.
The Reality of the Safeguard: A ballot is not like a flyer; it cannot simply be picked up by anyone and counted. Every single ballot package sent out is tied to a specific voterās record via a unique tracking barcode.
If a ballot is sent to a voter's old address and a new tenant fills it out, it will be rejected the moment it reaches the election office because the signature on the envelope will not match the voterās signature on file.
If a voter receives a mail ballot but decides to vote in person instead, the electronic pollbook at the voting center updates instantly. If they try to mail the ballot later, the system flags the barcode as "already voted" and rejects it automatically.
2. "Ballot Harvesting" (Third-Party Collection)
This refers to the practice where a third partyāsuch as a volunteer, campaign staffer, or community memberācollects completed mail-in ballots from voters and drops them off at an election office or drop box. Critics argue this opens the door for bad actors to pressure voters, alter votes, or simply throw away ballots from neighborhoods that vote for the opposing party.
The Reality of the Safeguard: States have heavily regulated or restricted this practice to prevent abuse. As of 2026, the law varies significantly depending on the state:
Strict Limits: Many states explicitly outlaw anyone other than a close family member or caregiver from returning a ballot.
Caps on Collection: In states where third-party collection is legal, laws often limit a single person to collecting only a small number of ballots (usually between 3 and 10).
Paper Trails: Collectors are often required to sign a log or affidavit on the ballot envelope, making them legally responsible for the ballot's safe delivery.
The Ultimate Check: Even if an unauthorized person collects a ballot, they cannot change the vote inside because the envelope must be sealed and signed by the actual voter. If the envelope is ripped open or tampered with, it is flagged and investigated.
3. Chain of Custody Issues
The concern is that once a ballot leaves a voter's hands, it passes through too many intermediate steps (mail trucks, sorting facilities, drop boxes) where it could be stolen or lost.
The Reality of the Safeguard: Election offices treat ballots with a level of security similar to how banks handle cash or police handle evidence. The "chain of custody" is a strict, legally mandated paper trail.
Tamper-Evident Tech: Ballots are transported in heavy-duty containers secured with serially numbered, single-use, tamper-evident seals. The seal numbers are logged before transit and verified upon arrival; if a seal number doesn't match or looks broken, the container is locked down and investigated.
Bipartisan Teams: By law, local drop boxes are emptied by teams of at least two people, almost always representing different political parties, ensuring one person is never left alone with the ballots.
24/7 Logging: Every single exchangeāwho touched the box, what time it was opened, how many ballots were insideāis documented on a physical seal log.
While managing millions of pieces of mail is undeniably complex, the security doesn't rely on trust. It relies on a rigorous, transparent system of audits, barcodes, and bipartisan oversight specifically designed to catch human errors and deter bad actors.
