What's wrong with mail in ballots?
Updated: Sep 7
Mail-in ballots have become the dominant method of voting in many parts of the country, with over 80% of votes now cast this way in California. This shift from traditional in-person voting to mail balloting has transformed how elections operate, but it has also raised serious questions about the accuracy and security of voter rolls. Understanding the history of absentee ballots and the challenges that come with mass mail voting reveals why maintaining accurate voter registration lists is more important than ever.
The history of absentee ballots and the rise of mail voting
Absentee ballots started as a way for voters who could not physically reach polling places—such as military personnel overseas or people with disabilities—to participate in elections. Traditionally, voters had to request an absentee ballot, ensuring that only those who needed one received it. This system helped election officials manage the number of mailed ballots and maintain control over the voter rolls.
By 2020, California was prepared to expand universal mail voting, moving toward sending ballots automatically to all registered voters without requiring a request. This change aimed to increase voter participation and convenience. While this approach has made voting easier for many, it also demands that voter registration lists be extremely accurate. If ballots are mailed to outdated or incorrect addresses, it creates risks of ballots being lost, intercepted, or even fraudulently cast.
The importance of accurate voter rolls
Accurate voter rolls are the backbone of a secure mail-in ballot system. When election officials send ballots to every registered voter, they must ensure that the addresses on file are current and that the voter is eligible. Otherwise, ballots could be sent to people who have moved away, are deceased, or no longer live in the jurisdiction.
A revealing example comes from the 2024 Experian audit conducted by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters (ROV). The audit uncovered significant issues with the voter rolls:
146,406 registered voters had no best address on file, meaning the county could not confirm where these voters currently live.
58,500 registered voters had moved out of the county or even out of the state, yet remained on the active voter list.
1,080 registered voters were deceased but still marked as active in the system.
These findings show that the county is not keeping up with the daily updates it claims to receive from other databases, including those from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the United States Postal Service (USPS), and the coroner’s office. The problem is amplified by illegitimate additions or changes to the voter rolls by NGO’s and other state agencies.
Why the voter roll issues matter for mail-in ballots
When voter rolls are inaccurate, the consequences for mail-in voting can be serious:
Ballots sent to outdated addresses may never reach the intended voter, leading to disenfranchisement.
Ballots sent to deceased voters or people who have moved can be intercepted and potentially voted.
Election officials face challenges verifying voter eligibility when records are not updated promptly.
These issues undermine confidence in the mail-in ballot system and raises questions about election integrity.
Holding the Board of Supervisors Accountable
Many local citizens responded to these alarming numbers of ineligible voters by speaking to the Board of Supervisors during the public comments section of the board meetings. Despite multiple suggestions given to the Supervisors and Registrar to improve voter roll accuracy and routine updates, the Registrar continues to follow the same procedures and has failed to address the inaccuracies.
Moving forward: what needs to change
The County Board of Supervisors (BOS) can direct the Registrar of Voters to establish a list maintenance strategy to reduce the number of ineligible voters detected by the Experian Audit.
Contact the BOS via email and request a response to voter roll maintenance. The ROV will say they follow election code and CA regulation. To investigate and correct the 1000’s of suspect registrant entries, the ROV must hire special staff with the skill sets to compare the rolls to external databases, identify suspect registrants, and implement corrections. Routine maintenance of the rolls will not suffice.
Make public comments at BOS Supervisor meetings to request an Experian audit to determine if the ROV was able to remove ineligible voters
Present the Board of Supervisors (BOS) with a Resolution to improve voter roll maintenance procedures.
Voters and active citizens can play a role by participating in BOS meetings through public comments, phone calls, emails and public records requests.
If voter rolls are not accurate, mailed ballots are not accurate. Elections in Riverside have been won and lost by as little as 15 votes. Our voter rolls must be accurate.
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