Influence of Incomplete and Unverified Vote-by-Mail Ballots on Mail-in Voting

Vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots that were returned inaccurately during past general elections contributed to votes that were not counted in Florida. Since 2016, more than 600,000 mail ballots were not counted in the state; 73,000 were not counted in Broward County, Florida. The problem was that VBM ballots were returned as incomplete due to missing or mismatched signatures and not counted during the election processes. However, it was not known if this issue impacted voter perceptions of VBM voting. The public choice theory was the theoretical framework. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of voter perceptions about VBM Ballots that were not counted in Broward County, Florida in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Twenty telephone interviews were conducted and audio-recorded using 13 semi-structured interview questions. Findings revealed registered voters who used the VBM process to cast their votes expressed high confidence in the integrity of the mail-in voting system. Some voters expressed moderate to low confidence due to concerns about potential mishandling or delays in mail delivery. Voters who were aware of and used ballot tracking tools reported greater peace of mind, as they could verify their ballots were received and counted. Many voters appreciated security measures like signature verification, ID requirements, and secure drop boxes, and these measures increased their confidence in the system. Public policy implications include using insights from findings to improve VBM policies, programs, and processes. Implications for positive social change include greater voter confidence that their votes are counted and increased confidence and interest in the election process.