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According to USA TODAY’s analysis of data from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, nearly 30% of voters in the 2024 presidential election used mail-in ballots—up from around 24% in 2016. Trump won both years.
In a Fox News interview on August 15, three days before he promised to end mail-in voting through an executive order, Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him the 2020 election was rigged because of mail-in ballots. Only a small fraction of ballots are suspected of being invalid, according to Bernard Fraga, a political science professor at Emory University.
National polls show that mail-in voting is widely popular and considered secure. Its use has grown steadily over the past decade, with some states allowing it for all voters regardless of circumstances. For example, Texas permits people who are disabled, due to give birth, or over 65 to vote by mail.
Historically, states that initially restricted mail-in ballots expanded their access. Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School and former White House aide under Joe Biden, notes that many people prefer the option of reading their ballot at home and researching candidates thoroughly. In 2024, high rates of mail-in ballots were observed in the western states like Oregon and Washington.
Mail-in voting is now more popular among Democrats than Republicans. In 2008, only a slight difference existed between parties, but by 2016, Democrats outpaced Republicans 23%-19% in choosing mail-in voting. In 2024, 37% of Democrats voted by mail compared to 24% of Republicans and 30% of independents.
North Carolina has consistently had a high rate of mail-in ballots since 2008. In 2020, the rate spiked due to concerns about contracting COVID-19 at polling places. Experts rated the 2020 election as secure despite doubts from some skeptics. Many states have implemented additional safeguards for mail-in ballots.
Mail-in voting has become increasingly popular over the past two decades, with a significant increase in usage since Trump took office.
