The Mobile Voting Project’s 2026 Midterm Election Report
The 2026 midterm elections are behind us, but the challenges voters faced at the ballot box tell an important story about the future of our democracy.
Today, The Mobile Voting Project is excited to release our new policy report, Lessons from the 2026 Midterms, examining voting challenges across the country and how secure mobile voting could help prevent them in future elections.
The findings are eye-opening:
Natural disasters disrupted voting: Severe flooding in Utah and Colorado forced election officials to offer emergency electronic ballot return when voters couldn't safely reach polling locations.
Voting machines failed: In Westchester County, New York, ballot scanners malfunctioned in 44 of 45 municipalities, forcing thousands of ballots to be secured and counted the following day.
Rural voters were left behind: In Alaska, early voting locations in at least 18 remote communities failed to open as scheduled, leaving voters with limited alternatives.
Mail voting faced serious challenges: From delayed ballots in Vermont to nearly 447,000 replacement ballots mailed in Maryland, printing errors, postal delays, and administrative failures created unnecessary barriers.
The takeaway? Even voters who do everything right can face obstacles beyond their control.
Our report makes the case for secure, end-to-end verifiable mobile voting as an additional option alongside in-person and mail voting. It also explores how mobile voting works, the safeguards designed to protect ballots, and successful programs already operating across the country.
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
As we look toward 2028 and beyond, we have an opportunity to learn from these challenges and build a voting system that is more accessible, resilient, and convenient for every eligible voter.
We encourage you to read the report, share it with your networks, and help us spread the word about the future of voting.