promoearn: Concerned about absentee ballot fraud? Don't be.

USA TODAY: Concerned about absentee ballot fraud? Don't be.

Tuesday, October 20

Working in bipartisan pairs, canvassers process mail-in ballots in a warehouse at the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections headquarters on October 7, 2020 in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The ballot canvas for mail-in and absentee ballots began on October 1st in Maryland, the earliest in the country. Every ballot goes through a five step process before being sliced open and tabulated.

Concerned about absentee ballot fraud? Don't be.

Absentee ballot fraud concerns aren't supported by evidence. Rush Limbaugh's stage 4 lung cancer has worsened. It's Tuesday's news.

USA TODAY's Editorial Board endorsed a candidate for president for the first time. Rush Limbaugh gave a heartfelt update on his cancer battle. And two weeks before Election Day, our investigative team dives into absentee ballot fraud.

It's Ashley with the news to know.

But first, check out the sky tonight: The Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight – the best meteor shower of the fall.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!

Absentee ballot fraud? Not really a thing

We've been hearing a lot about absentee ballot fraud this election year, so we analyzed a conservative foundation's database of fraud cases to get the scoop. What we found? Concerns about absentee ballot fraud aren't supported by evidence – and it's not an election threat. A deep look at the Heritage Foundation's Election Fraud database shows that the majority of cases put just a few votes at stake and that the database presents misleading and incomplete information that overstates the number of alleged fraud instances, an investigation by USA TODAY, Columbia Journalism Investigations and the PBS series "Frontline" found.

•	One way absentee ballots could definitely be affected? By people setting ballot drop boxes on fire. (We're looking at you, Los Angeles.)
•	Americans want their vote to count: Here's what voters need to know about their rights.
•	New in the polls Tuesday: Race narrows in North Carolina, Florida; voters nationally favor Biden over Trump.

The Anne Arundel County Board of Elections separates problematic ballots at a warehouse in Glen Burnie, Md.

Drew Angerer, Getty Images

The Editorial Board, independent from the newsroom, endorses Biden

In its 38 years of existence, the nonpartisan USA TODAY Editorial Board has never endorsed a candidate for president or recommended a nominee – until now. The Editorial Board, which is separate from the news department (and The Short List), endorsed Joe Biden for president. "This year, character, competence and credibility are on the ballot ... so, too, is the future of America's democracy," the Editorial Board wrote. Nicole Carroll, USA TODAY's editor-in-chief, explains why the board made the endorsement and how it won't affect our coverage of either candidate.

USA TODAY's Editorial Board endorses Joe Biden for president.

USA TODAY

Mike Pence: Reelect Trump to renew America's promise

In response to the Editorial Board's decision to endorse Biden for president, Vice President Mike Pence wrote an opposing view for USA TODAY. "When Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president, he launched a movement to restore the promise of America," Pence wrote. Pence highlighted, among other things, the economy under the Trump administration, tax cuts, trade reform and the president's support for the military and law enforcement.

Vice President Mike Pence responds to the USA TODAY Editorial Board's endorsement of Joe Biden for president: "For the last four years, I have stood with President Trump as he kept his promises to the American people."

USA TODAY

What everyone's talking about

•	The Republican-controlled Senate is set to vote on the reauthorization of the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses.
•	"Cheer" star Jerry Harris was warned before his child porn arrest by the owner of a gym featured on "America's Got Talent," a lawsuit claims.
•	First lady Melania Trump canceled her first campaign rally in months, citing a "lingering cough" from her COVID-19 diagnosis.
•	U.S. marshals say they are getting closer to finding Lester Eubanks, a killer on the run for decades.
•	Almost two dozen hikers were airlifted to safety after a wildfire broke out in Colorado's San Juan Mountains.
•	New Yorker writer Jeffrey Toobin has been suspended until further notice after it was reported that he exposed himself on a Zoom call.

COVID-19 has caused 285,000 more deaths than expected in a typical year

The coronavirus pandemic has left about 285,000 more people dead in the USA than would be expected in a typical year, two-thirds of them from COVID-19 and the rest from other causes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. There have been more than 8.2 million cases and 220,000 deaths in the USA, according to Johns Hopkins data. Globally, there have been more than 40.6 million reported cases and 1.1 million deaths.

Real quick

•	Filmmaker James Redford, son of entertainment legend Robert Redford, died Friday at 58.
•	The Justice Department sued Google for antitrust violations, alleging that it abused its dominance in online searches and advertising to stifle competition.
•	The Pentagon reiterated that troops have no role in the U.S. election – that includes vets at polls.
•	Tony Lewis, singer for The Outfield, died "suddenly and unexpectedly" at 62.
•	Trump and Biden will have their microphones cut off during portions of Thursday's presidential debate.

Rush Limbaugh's stage 4 lung cancer has worsened, he says

Longtime conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's stage 4 lung cancer has progressed "in the wrong direction." More than eight months after revealing his diagnosis, Limbaugh, 69, said Monday on his radio show that his new health developments weren't "dramatic" but had nevertheless worsened. Limbaugh announced in early February that he had been diagnosed with "advanced lung cancer." At the time, he did not believe he'd live past September, he said Monday. Limbaugh is the leading conservative talk radio host, a star of the airwaves for more than three decades, having gotten his start in the 1970s. Limbaugh is the most-listened-to radio host in the country – 15.5 million listeners tuned in weekly as of December 2019, according to Talkers.

•	Rush Limbaugh has advanced cancer:. What does that mean? What is stage IV?

Rush Limbaugh receives the Medal of Freedom from first lady Melania Trump as President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address in Washington on Feb. 4.

Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

A break from the news: This is Halloween 🎃

•	Here are 10 thrillers and chillers to watch to get you in a Halloween mood.
•	Halloween costumes we won't miss this year.
•	A rare full moon will rise for this year's Halloween, giving trick-or-treaters an extra treat for the holiday. It is also a blue moon.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.