The Washington Post
In 2020, the United States did not have election night so much as election week. Factors including a slow count of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania delayed declaring Joe Biden the winner until the Saturday after Election Day, giving President Donald Trump time to allege fraud -- allegations that resulted in the Jan. 6, 2021, effort to overturn the results.
This year, some -- but only some -- of the thousands of people responsible for administering U.S. elections have learned the lessons of four years ago. Americans should prepare themselves for another difficult post-election period -- even if it is unlikely to be as chaotic as 2020.
On Friday, supporters of Mr. Trump on Georgia's State Election Board voted to require counties to hand-count every ballot, which could delay reporting by weeks. Local election workers warn it will almost certainly produce more errors and that they won't be able to comply with a requirement to complete counting by the day following the election, especially in large jurisdictions that tend to favor Democrats.
In many places, counting mail-in ballots could be a flash point once again. Even as Mr. Trump calls absentee voting "corrupt," Republicans are trying to encourage more supporters to cast ballots by mail while simultaneously maneuvering to invalidate ballots that don't precisely comply with sometimes complex rules. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Friday that mail-in ballots can be thrown out if voters do not write accurate dates on the envelope used to return them. Election officials are fretting about potential problems with mail delivery and warning that counting every vote could take days following Nov. 5.
Sign Up for Newsletters
Email*
Select Newsletters to Sign Up For
News Updates
Breaking News
Sports Digest
Obituaries and Death Notices
Submit
The U.S. Postal Service appears to be taking seriously concerns about mail reliability expressed last week by the National Association of Secretaries of State. The nonpartisan group warned that "lost or delayed election mail" risks disenfranchising voters. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy replied that training has been improved to expedite delivery of election-related material, and that in 2020 nearly 98 percent of ballots were returned to election officials within three days. All the same, voters should return ballots early -- with plenty of time to spare -- and give extra attention to every requirement. Many states allow voters to "cure" ballots missing critical information within a certain period of time.
Mr. Trump might well win this election fair and square. Polls show the race is neck and neck. It's possible he takes an early lead in the count and holds it, or that Republicans vote by mail in greater numbers than forecast, dulling the expected blue shift. In 2020, Democrats returned 18 million ballots by mail compared, with about 10 million from Republicans across 20 states with party registration data. In the 2022 midterms, Democrats sent in 7.6 million mail-in ballots, compared with 5.1 million from Republicans, according to the U.S. Elections Project. But commentators and voters should nevertheless prepare for an uncertain result on the evening of Nov. 5.
One piece of good news is that a bipartisan group of lawmakers is trying to avert a reprise of the Jan. 6 mess. This past month, 32 members of Congress signed a "Unity Commitment" in which they agreed to respect the results of the 2024 election, attend the inauguration and serve as a voice for calm, regardless of who wins.
For most Americans, the imperative is clear: vote. Two NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station plan to cast absentee ballots in Texas. If they can figure out how to vote, you can, too. Ballots are starting to be mailed out in Nevada, Wisconsin, Georgia and North Carolina. But it's not too late to register. At least two weeks remain in every state. If you're eligible, go to vote.gov.