Paper Ballots Played a Key Role in Defending the Integrity of the 2020 Election Workers prepare paper absentee ballots to be counted at the Richland County Administration Building on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Tracy Glantz / The State / Tribune News Service via Getty Images By If Donald Trump ever does leave the White House, we can in large part thank paper ballots. Trumpâs desperate assault on 2020âs popular vote has drawn justifiable contempt. But had this election predominantly been conducted on the computerized touchscreen machines that have dominated our electoral process since Florida in 2000, Trump could well be headed for a stolen second term.