Rise in Use of Ballot Drop Boxes Sparks Partisan Battles


Free-standing ballot drop boxes during the pandemic provide assurance to voters who worry about the reliability of the postal service or health risks at polling places. Drop-box voting gradually won acceptance in states relying entirely on remote voting. By 2016, most voters in three big states used drop boxes. Many states lack rules governing the number of allowed drop boxes per county, which has contributed to partisan feuds over the numbers of collection boxes. The battles have focused on claims of ballot-security threats, but there is little evidence drop boxes are less secure than other methods.

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