Election officials say ballot drop boxes are a secure and accessible way for voters in many states to return their mail ballots, but they’ve also been the subject of numerous conspiracies and attacks from former President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

Some states that primarily vote by mail have long used drop boxes, but during the peak of the COVID pandemic in 2020, more states offered them or expanded their use.

The tamper-proof boxes are generally installed outside places like election offices, libraries and other government buildings, with rules about chain of custody and how ballots are collected. Many drop boxes are kept under surveillance. Some experts note they provide for safer and faster return of ballots than the postal service.

An Associated Press survey of most states found no major issues with drop boxes in the 2020 general election.

2024 Election

Voters are advised to return their ballots early because of mail delay concerns

But after Trump’s election defeat, drop boxes became a target for baseless accusations of fraud, including the claim that Democrats stole the 2020 election by using ballot “mules” to stuff ballot drop boxes with fraudulent votes, popularized by right-wing commentator Dinesh D’Souza’s book and movie 2000 Mules.

The claims made in 2000 Mules were proven false by law enforcement, elections officials and media, and its publisher halted distribution of the film and book and apologized to a Georgia voter accused of illegally dropping...

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