Mail ballot mirages aren't fraud, but mail ballot fraud isn't a complete myth | Column

Theory Briefing

• Mail ballot mirages are vote-count swings that appear suspicious but stem from the order ballots are received and tallied across election day.
• The column argues the phenomenon fuels conspiracy theories despite having a mundane, procedural explanation.
• Real mail ballot fraud is neither as rampant as some claim nor entirely nonexistent — the piece holds both extremes accountable.
• The timing of when mail ballots are processed versus reported creates the visual pattern that drives misinformation.