Nationwide Mail-In Voting Sees Massive Increase in 2020 Election

The 2020 election saw a massive increase in mail-in voting due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with 66.4 million ballots cast by mail, a 131% increase from 2016. This shift was largely driven by the political establishment and the left, who used the crisis as an opportunity to push for nationwide mail-in voting. The move towards mail-in voting has been met with mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle. Supporters of the change argue that it increases voter turnout and makes it easier for those who may not be able to make it to their polling place on election day due to health or other reasons. Opponents worry about potential fraud and abuse of the system, as well as increased costs associated with processing such a large number of ballots. However, despite these concerns, many states have implemented measures designed to ensure that mail-in ballots are secure and reliable. These include requiring voters to provide identification when requesting a ballot, implementing signature verification systems, and increasing oversight of ballot processing centers. Additionally, some states have implemented tracking systems so that voters can monitor their ballot’s progress through the system until it is counted on election day. Ultimately, while there are still questions surrounding mail-in voting’s security and reliability, its use in this year’s election has been unprecedentedly successful in terms of increasing voter turnout across all demographics. It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue into future elections or if we will return to traditional methods of casting our votes at polling places on election day.