Election results, 2020: Analysis of rejected ballots
Last updated: Sept. 10, 2021
This page compares the percentages of rejected absentee/mail-in ballots between the 2016, 2018, and 2020 general elections by state. From 2016 to 2020, the percentage of rejected absentee/mail-in ballots increased in 12 states and decreased in 33. The rate was unchanged in two states and three—Alabama, Alaska, and Vermont—were excluded due to incomplete data.
In 2020, voters cast 70,550,699 absentee/mail-in ballots in the general election. Of these, 560,177 (0.8%) of which were rejected. By comparison, absentee/mail-in ballot rejection rates in 2018 and 2016 were 1.4% and 1.0%, respectively.[1]
Turnout and absentee/mail-in data on this page comes from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's (EAC) annual "Election Administration and Voting Survey" unless otherwise noted. Percentages were calculated by Ballotpedia.
Absentee/mail-in ballot figures, 2016-2020
Year Overall turnout Ballots returned Ballots rejected Rejection rate[2]
2020 161,303,109 70,550,699 560,177 0.8%
2018 120,314,461 30,377,407 430,190 1.4%
2016 140,114,503 33,378,450 318,728 1.0%
On this page you will find:
An explanation of absentee/mail-in voting
An analysis of rejected absentee/mail-in ballots in 2020
A comparison of rejection rates since 2016
Reasons why an absentee/mail-in ballot might be rejected
Links to EAC reports since 2016
Articles discussing 2020 absentee/mail-in ballot rejection rates
https://ballotpedia.org/Election_results,_...
This page compares the percentages of rejected absentee/mail-in ballots between the 2016, 2018, and 2020 general elections by state. From 2016 to 2020, the percentage of rejected absentee/mail-in ballots increased in 12 states and decreased in 33. The rate was unchanged in two states and three—Alabama, Alaska, and Vermont—were excluded due to incomplete data.
In 2020, voters cast 70,550,699 absentee/mail-in ballots in the general election. Of these, 560,177 (0.8%) of which were rejected. By comparison, absentee/mail-in ballot rejection rates in 2018 and 2016 were 1.4% and 1.0%, respectively.[1]
Turnout and absentee/mail-in data on this page comes from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's (EAC) annual "Election Administration and Voting Survey" unless otherwise noted. Percentages were calculated by Ballotpedia.
Absentee/mail-in ballot figures, 2016-2020
Year Overall turnout Ballots returned Ballots rejected Rejection rate[2]
2020 161,303,109 70,550,699 560,177 0.8%
2018 120,314,461 30,377,407 430,190 1.4%
2016 140,114,503 33,378,450 318,728 1.0%
On this page you will find:
An explanation of absentee/mail-in voting
An analysis of rejected absentee/mail-in ballots in 2020
A comparison of rejection rates since 2016
Reasons why an absentee/mail-in ballot might be rejected
Links to EAC reports since 2016
Articles discussing 2020 absentee/mail-in ballot rejection rates
https://ballotpedia.org/Election_results,_...
