Trump Doesn't Seem to Understand that Mail-in Ballots & Absentee Ballots are the Same Thing

President Trump continues to criticize "mail-in voting" while defending "absentee voting," which he, his family and members of his administration have used in the past.

Trump Twitter: "Absentee Ballots are fine because you have to go through a precise process to get your voting privilege. Not so with Mail-Ins. Rigged Election!!! 20% fraudulent ballots?"

Like much of what Trump says each day, his allegations of fraud are simply nonsense and there is essentially no difference between getting an absentee ballot and mailing it and getting a mail-in ballot and mailing it. His claim that, "you have to go through a precise process to get your voting privilege," is just typical Trump gibberish. There are protections in place for both systems to prevent fraud and they are quite reliable.

CNN Fact Check: "No-excuse mail voting or absentee voting -- whatever you call it -- is essentially the same thing," David Becker, founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research told CNN's Marshall Cohen. "You request a ballot, you get a ballot, you vote, you send it in, and there are protections in place. It doesn't matter whether you call it mail voting or absentee voting. It's the same thing." ...

..."Mail ballot fraud is exceedingly rare in part because states have systems and processes in place to prevent forgery, theft and voter fraud. These systems would apply to both absentee ballots and mail-in ballots for in-state voters."

Moreover, five states [Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah] already use mail-in ballots and they have successfully prevented the "rigged" elections Trump warns of. Their voters seem to appreciate not having to stand in line on election day, and probably more so during a pandemic.

#2020election

By: Don Lam & Curated Content