LJ, your concerns with mail-in voting are valid, and there are many more for certain.
If there is no chain of custody, there can be no secure election. Period.
Way too many people can handle the ballots with absolutely NO oversight. None!
Reagan used to say, “Trust, but Verify.” Well, with no way to verify, there can be no trust.
And not just chain of custody - point of origin!
There is no alternative for secure voting than photo ID, regsitering beforehand with proof of citizenship and residence, etc. Last I read there are 16 states that give illegals drivers licenses, and of course legal green card holders etc can get DL too. So proof of citizenship is vital, DL is not sufficience.