Thread by @jseldin

RECAPPING: @POTUS Thursday issued a series of tweets urging voters to mail-in their ballots & then go to their polling places "to see whether or not your Mail In Vote has been Tabulated (Counted)"

@TwitterSafety later marked 2 of the tweets...

1/13

.@TwitterSafety explained its aim was "to prevent people from sharing advice about voting twice, which may be illegal"

It also explained "laws regarding the invalidation of mail-in ballots when individuals choose to vote in person are complex &vary significantly by state"

2/13

So what does happen? We reached out to officials helping coordinate #Election2020 security for the states, who agreed that in many states, polling places should have a record of whether a mail-in ballot was requested & whether it had been returned

3/13

The @NCSLorg call this "processing" - which is different from opening the ballot and recording or tabulating the vote

Exact procedures for "processing" absentee/mail-in ballots differ from state to state

More here:
ncsl.org/research/elect…

4/13

In many states, "when a voter requests an absentee ballot, that is noted in their voter record & that data point is provided to precincts in #pollbooks" per one of the officials helping coordinate #Election2020 security for the states

5/13

Per a @NCSLorg survey, 36 states used electronic #pollbooks - e-pollbooks - in at least 1 jurisdiction in #Election2018

As of October 2019, at least 41 states are using #epollbooks

More here: ncsl.org/research/elect…

6/13

If a voter's absentee/mail-in ballot has already been processed, "that would be noted in the pollbook and that voter would not be permitted to vote a second time" per the official, though a voter could be issued a provisional ballot if they insist

7/13

If a voter shows up at a polling place having requested a mail-in ballot thats not been processed, it also would be noted, per the official

That voter would be asked to turn in the mail-in ballot, sign an affidavit voiding the mail-in ballot or cast a provisional ballot

8/13

This appears to be in line with what @PressSec said earlier:



9/13

.@PressSec also told reporters regarding @POTUS' comments & tweets, "The president has laid it out very clearly. You should verify your vote"

10/13

However, while @POTUS' tweets direct voters to go to their polling places during early voting/on election day to verify their ballots were received, a 2nd official involved in helping states w/election security says voters may have other options, as well

11/13

Tracking mail delivery is one option. In some states voters can also make sure make sure a mail-in ballot was processed by "making an inquiry by phone or online through their local election office to ensure the ballot has been delivered or returned" per the 2nd official

12/13

So can someone vote twice by using mail-in ballot & then going to vote in person?

"It is important to note, election officials keep meticulous records to ensure no voter casts a ballot twice" per the 2nd official

13/13