In the US, there are multiple ways to vote: voting by mail, voting early and in person, voting in person on election day, and voting by absentee ballot. Voting early can be done by mail or in person and varies by state. Voting by mail and voting in person are both secure methods, given the verification systems in place to ensure all forms of voting are accurate and trustworthy. One of these systems is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that have implemented cybersecurity and physical security protections.
Here are some common misconceptions about voting.
Claim #1: Poll workers interfere with people’s ballots
This claim is FALSE.
This claim is FALSE. There are safeguards in place to prevent poll workers from interfering with voting and ballot counting. To ensure ballot security, training is required for 42 states and the District of Columbia so that election workers are consistent, standardized, and professional. To ensure election worker conduct and integrity, poll workers must agree to three primary policies:
- Election worker’s terms of employment provide a signed, written document that outlines conduct, performance expectations, and dismissal policies
- Election worker’s oaths and codes of conduct ask temporary employees to sign a document committing them to doing their duties honestly and faithfully
- Party affiliation requirements provide a way for election offices to ensure that bipartisan teams are available to perform election-related tasks
Additionally, poll workers that handle the ballot must follow a strict chain of command, as required by state law, often requiring two people to always be in the same room as the ballots, policies for when poll workers encounter issues, and prohibits the sharing of private voter information.
Claim #2: Some voting methods are safer than others
This claim is FALSE.
This claim is FALSE. All states have systems in place to ensure secure votes and certified results. Election officials test both voting and counting machines regularly to make sure that they work properly through “logic and accuracy” tests. Mail-in ballots go through the same rigorous verification as ballots submitted in person. Mail voting laws differ state by state and it’s important to check with your local election office to learn about the voting options available to you.
Voting in person and voting by mail are both safe ways to vote. Early voting has started in most states and Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. For voter deadlines, please visit www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/.