‘Vermont’s mail-in ballots appear uniform at first glance. Yet scanning the Data Matrix code on the face of a ballot reveals a longer identifier that differs from ballot to ballot. These codes are reportedly absent from ballots issued in person.

Whether the identifiers can connect a completed ballot to its voter remains unproven. Their presence, alongside another code on the mailing envelope, raises questions that deserve documented answers.

How can officials assure us that these ballots comply with uniformity and secrecy requirements without accounting for the individual identifiers and demonstrating that they cannot be used to trace a vote? They can’t.’

This post sponsored by integrityvermont.org