CCTV, zip ties and election watchers: How US mail-in votes are secured and counted

October 31, 2026

The BBC visited an election center in Maryland to examine the mail-in ballot processing and counting procedures ahead of the US midterm elections. President Trump has repeatedly made unverified claims suggesting that postal voting results in widespread fraud, despite having used this voting method himself previously. While voting regulations differ across US states, every state permits some form of mail-in voting.

Who is affected

US voters who use mail-in voting
President Trump (who has used mail-in voting)
Election workers in Maryland
Election centers across all US states that process mail-in ballots

What action is being taken

BBC Verify is conducting behind-the-scenes examination of mail-in ballot processing and counting at a Maryland election center
Election centers are using security measures including CCTV surveillance, zip ties, and election watchers to process mail-in ballots
President Trump is making claims about mail-in voting fraud

Why it matters

This matters because it addresses concerns about election integrity and security during a period when the legitimacy of mail-in voting is being publicly questioned by the President. By documenting the actual security procedures used to process mail-in ballots, the report provides transparency about safeguards that protect against fraud and helps voters understand how their ballots are handled and counted.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC