Trump campaign official says safest way to vote by mail is to drop off ballot in person

A senior legal adviser to the Trump 2020 campaign says the safest way to vote by mail is to drop off a ballot directly at the collection sites.

The adviser, Jenna Ellis, told "Just the News AM" host Carrie Sheffield that instead of returning a ballot through the mail service or another third party, dropping it off at a valid polling location is the best alternative. 

"You don't have to drop it in the mail, you can drop it off from the safety and security of your car at a valid location. That's the best way to do a vote by mail, if you choose that option," Ellis said.

A record-breaking 10.5 million people have already voted with exactly three weeks until Election Day. Florida is leading the way with 1.6 million early votes, followed by Virginia and Wisconsin with both nearing one million votes. At this time four years ago, 1.4 million people had cast their votes. The numbers are largely attributed to voters having concerns about going to polling stations during the coronavirus, so instead voting by mail.

As of Sunday, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin had already reached at least 20% of their 2016 vote. Early votes are a combination of in-person and mail-in ballots. 

President Trump supports mail-in balloting but opposes states sending out unrequested ballots from voter rolls. He and the campaign, citing instances of ballots being mishandled, have raised concerns about whether ballot will get to polling officials via mail safely and by Election Day. 

"Of course, the polls are safe as well, and if we can social distance at the grocery store, we can certainly stand in line to vote," Ellis added.