Fact check: Would mail in voting compared to in person voting with traceable paper ballots be more accurate?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, there is no direct comparison between mail-in voting and in-person voting with traceable paper ballots in terms of accuracy. However, several key findings emerge:

Mail-in voting security measures:

• Mail voting is described as "a safe, secure, and reliable voting method" with verification processes where "every mail ballot is verified for eligibility before being counted" ^[1]
• Documented instances of fraud related to mail voting are rare ^[2]
• Mail ballots suspected of fraudulent activity are set aside for further investigation ^[1]

Paper ballot advantages:

• Paper ballots are considered more secure and accurate because they "provide a physical record of votes that can be verified and audited" ^[3]
• Nearly all votes in the 2024 election were expected to be cast on paper ^[3]
• Paper ballots with a traceable chain of custody are viewed as more secure than electronic voting machines ^[4]

Voting trends:

• There has been a decrease in mail-in voting rates and an increase in early in-person voting ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context:

• No statistical data comparing error rates, fraud rates, or accuracy metrics between the two voting methods
• Missing discussion of verification processes - both mail-in and in-person voting can use paper ballots with verification systems
• Absence of audit trail comparisons - the question doesn't address how both methods can be audited and verified
• No consideration of implementation quality - accuracy depends heavily on how well each system is administered rather than the method itself
• Missing context about hybrid systems - many jurisdictions use paper ballots for both mail-in and in-person voting

Alternative viewpoints that benefit different stakeholders:

• Election officials and security experts benefit from emphasizing that both methods can be secure when properly implemented with paper trails and verification
• Political parties may benefit from promoting whichever method historically favors their voter turnout
• Technology vendors benefit from promoting electronic systems over paper-based solutions

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that creates a false dichotomy by suggesting mail-in voting and "in-person voting with traceable paper ballots" are mutually exclusive categories. This framing is potentially misleading because:

• Mail-in ballots can also be paper ballots with traceable chains of custody
• The question implies that mail-in voting lacks traceability, when proper mail-in systems include verification and tracking mechanisms ^[1]
• The comparison conflates voting method (mail vs. in-person) with ballot type (paper vs. electronic), when these are separate considerations

The phrasing suggests a bias toward in-person voting by specifically mentioning "traceable paper ballots" only for the in-person option, despite the fact that mail-in voting systems also use paper ballots with tracking mechanisms.