Ballot Paper Shortage Could Cause Problems on Election Day
Marketing | WABC-TV New York | November 04, 2022
With midterm voting now underway, a paper supply crunch is testing the preparedness of U.S. election officials and exposing a key vulnerability in the nation 's democratic process. The 2022 election cycle is projected to use an estimated 30 million pounds of paper, industry experts forecast. But skyrocketing demand coupled with a shortage of manufacturers during the COVID-19 crisis have pinched national stockpiles and left little margin for error. Perhaps the most pressing concern is editing mistakes or last-minute changes to a local ballot requiring a large-scale reprint. "That's when the [shortage] could manifest itself," warns Ricky Hatch, county clerk and election administrator for Weber County, Utah.
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