Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Thousands of DC Absentee Ballots Returned as Undeliverable in 2020 Election

An audit revealed over 11% of mail-in ballots were returned as undeliverable in Washington, D.C., during the 2020 general election.

The Office of the District of Columbia Auditor released “District of Columbia 2020 Election Administration” Nov. 16, the second of three reports evaluating the 2020 elections in the District. The audit details how changes the D.C. Board of Elections (DCBOE) implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the election process and voting patterns.

Of the 421,791 ballots mailed to voters in the 2020 general election, 11.4% were returned as undeliverable, marking a drastic increase in undeliverable ballots from the primary election, in which only 1.3% of ballots were returned as undeliverable. The rate of undeliverable ballots in the District for the general election was more than eight times the national average. 

Frequent population shifts and relocations contributed to the high rate of undeliverable ballots, according to Nick Jacobs, DCBOE public information officer.

“There are multiple explanations, starting with the fact that D.C. is an incredibly transient city,” Jacobs said in a phone interview with The Hoya. “People are moving in and out all the time. They’re moving around within the city, and so it’s just a factor of that.”

The comparatively high number of undeliverable ballots is due to outdated registration and address information used by the DCBOE to mail ballots to each registered voter, according to the audit.

“The high percentage of undeliverable mail ballots in the general election stands in contrast with the low percentage of such ballots in the primary election — for which voters were required to proactively request a by-mail ballot and only 1.3% of by-mail ballots were returned undeliverable,” the audit reads. “This lower percentage of undeliverable ballots evidences the necessity of ensuring registration and address information is up to date to reduce the chances of a ballot being returned undeliverable.”

The DCBOE conducts a canvas after each election to confirm voters’ information and addresses to try to avoid undeliverable ballots as a result of outdated personal information, according to Jacobs.

“We certainly do not accept it, and we want our voting rolls to be as current and accurate as possible,” Jacobs said. “That is reflected in the fact that one of the core components of our messaging is always encouraging voters to double-check their information and make sure it’s as current as possible.”

Hannah Laibinis/The Hoya | Over 11% of mail-in ballots in Washington D.C. from the 2020 general election were returned as undeliverable, according to an audit released Nov. 16.

When voters neglect to update their address, universal mail-in ballots are ineffective, forcing voters to find alternative ways to cast their ballot and defeating the purpose of encouraging absentee voting to protect the health of voters and election workers, according to Jacobs.

“It is incumbent upon the voter to return those mailers and confirm their information,” Jacobs said. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen there too. That’s reflective of the numbers that we saw in 2020 that despite our best efforts in the last election and the canvas right after that, voters don’t always take it seriously.”

The pandemic forced the DCBOE to adapt its voting methods for the 2020 election, shifting from prioritizing in-person voting to encouraging mail-in and drop-off options to protect the health of both voters and election workers.

During the 2020 primary election, DCBOE received a record high of over 90,000 absentee ballots, leading to difficulties processing ballots, staff shortages and long lines at polling centers. In an effort to increase accessibility for the general election, an act passed by the Council of the District of Columbia requiring the DCBOE to mail every registered voter an absentee ballot and postage-paid return envelope in advance of the Nov. 3 election went into effect in December 2020. 

One of the most effective ways to avoid a high number of ballots being returned as undeliverable in future elections is for voters to check their registration and confirm the correct addresses, according to Jacobs.

“We put our best efforts forward to make sure that the rolls are as accurate as possible,” Jacobs said. “But at the same time, the voters have to meet us halfway and have to accept their role and fulfill their role in keeping information as accurate as possible.”

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