Sen. Rand Paul on Voting and Election Integrity

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who co-sponsored the SAVE America Act, expressed in a recent interview that he sees the greatest risk to election validity as stemming from individuals not voting in person. He stated, “In fact, I think the biggest threat to the validity of the election is if people don’t vote in person.” Paul emphasized that voting in person allows for proper identification verification, which is not as straightforward when ballots are cast by mail.

He voiced concerns about the security of mail voting, stating, “When it’s done by mail, you have no idea if these people are alive, if they’re real, who filled out the ballot, who signed it.” There’s uncertainty regarding the authenticity of the process—such as whether someone coercively assisted individuals to fill out their ballots. Paul remarked that he is “perhaps more concerned about the integrity of the vote-by-mail election.”

The senator noted that he is supportive of the Preservation Act, having consistently voted in favor of it. However, he expressed bafflement over how the Democrats managed to secure around $60 million for initiatives in Virginia, which he believes unfairly influenced legal changes. He suggested that similar efforts should be made in Arizona to shift from unsolicited to solicited ballots for mail voting.

While Paul has indicated a desire to completely eliminate mail-in voting, he acknowledged that many residents in the West prefer the option. He believes a ballot initiative requiring individuals to apply for mail-in voting could enhance security and encourage stricter identification requirements, potentially bolstering the integrity of elections in key states.

Paul acknowledged that while many in the West cherish mail voting, he personally does not support it. He highlighted his own efforts to promote election reforms that resulted in minimal mail-in voting in his state.