Fact check: Has mail in voting been proven safe

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal a clear consensus among election officials and research institutions that mail-in voting has been proven safe and secure. The Brennan Center for Justice conducted a comprehensive 2017 study showing that voting fraud overall in the US occurs at a rate of less than 0.0009% ^[1]. Multiple sources confirm that studies consistently demonstrate fraud in mail-ballot voting is rare and that robust safeguards exist to protect against fraudulent activity ^[2].

Election officials across states, including New Hampshire, affirm that their current systems incorporating mail-in voting are safe and reliable ^[3]. The Bipartisan Policy Center explicitly states that mail voting is a "safe, secure, and reliable voting method used by voters of all political parties" and details the various verification measures in place to validate mail ballots and prevent fraud ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important political context surrounding this issue. President Trump has made repeated claims that mail-in voting leads to widespread fraud and has announced plans to issue an executive order to end mail-in voting, citing security concerns ^{[2] [5]}. However, experts and election officials have stated that such an executive order would be unconstitutional ^[5].

There are political actors who benefit from questioning mail-in voting security:

• Political figures like Trump gain from casting doubt on mail-in voting systems, particularly when it serves electoral strategies
• The Texas Attorney General's office has published opinion pieces arguing that mail-in ballots pose a threat to democracy, though this position contradicts the broader evidence base ^[6]

The analyses also reveal that any changes to established voting systems could be problematic according to election officials, suggesting that disrupting proven secure systems may create more risks than maintaining current safeguards ^[3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral and fact-seeking. However, the context reveals significant misinformation circulating about mail-in voting security. One source makes unsupported claims that mail-in ballots lack effective safeguards and that election officials cannot ensure ballots aren't requested fraudulently, but this claim is contradicted by evidence from other sources ^[6].

The most significant bias appears in political messaging that contradicts established research. While comprehensive studies and election officials consistently affirm mail-in voting security, political narratives continue to promote unfounded concerns about widespread fraud ^[2]. This creates a disconnect between evidence-based assessments and politically motivated claims, where the latter serve specific electoral interests rather than factual accuracy.