Democracy Explainers

Voting by Mail: An Explainer

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Voting by Mail - Democracy Explainer
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What does it mean to “vote by mail”?

Voting by mail is when a voter completes their ballot at home and mails it in or drops it off at a designated drop site (in available states). Depending on the state, other terms such as absentee voting, advanced voting by mail, voting by mail-in ballot, or voting at home may be used to describe this process. 

Voting by mail provides a flexible, convenient, safe, and secure option to cast a ballot. Every year, millions of mail-in ballots are cast nationwide in local, state, and federal elections. 

Who can vote by mail? 

Each state has different requirements and processes that determine who is eligible to vote by mail. States generally fall into one of three categories: 

  • No-excuse required states: In these states, voters do not need an excuse; they can request to vote by mail simply because it’s more convenient. In addition to states that conduct elections almost entirely by mail, 28 states have adopted no-excuse vote-by-mail laws. 
  • Excuse-required states: In these states, voters must provide a reason why they won’t be available to vote in-person. Today, 14 states plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands require an excuse to vote by mail. Laws vary by state, but typically accepted reasons include:
    • Having work or school
    • Being out of town
    • Having an illness, disability, medical condition, or scheduled procedure that prevents you from voting in person

How has the process of voting by mail changed over time?

The Start of Mail-In Ballots: The Civil War

Mail-in ballots were first used during the Civil War in order to allow soldiers on active duty to vote while they were away from home. 

In the late 1800s, states began passing mail-in ballot laws for non-military citizens. At first, the number of ballots voted absentee was rather small, as the first laws were only meant to help voters who were out-of-town or sick. 

World War II and Military Voting

During World War II, voting by mail gained popularity due to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and President Harry S. Truman’s encouragement of military voting. In order to ensure that military service members were represented in their government, the Soldier Voting Act of 1942 was passed to allow military members stationed overseas to mail-in their ballots from abroad. 

Additional legislation that aimed to make voting more accessible for military service members and citizens living overseas continued to be passed throughout the next few decades including: The Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) in 1986, and the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act in 2009.

The Benefits of Voting by Mail Gain Popularity

In the 1970s and 80s, Washington and California became the first states to allow eligible voters to cast their ballot by mail for any reason — no excuse necessary. Other Western states soon followed. 

In 2000, Oregon became the first state to automatically mail ballots to all registered voters. As of the publication of this explainer, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont (only for general elections in even years), Washington and Washington, DC have all instituted this practice and conduct their elections almost entirely by mail.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, voting by mail became an essential option when voting in-person posed health risks to communities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 43% of voters cast ballots by mail in 2020, compared to only 21% of voters who cast their ballots by mail in 2016. The pandemic not only expanded access to mail voting; it also demonstrated that this method of voting is safe, secure, and effective for millions of American citizens.

Present Day

Today, while laws and requirements differ by state, voting by mail has become a common practice that is utilized by a wide variety of Americans — not just those serving in the military. In 2024, approximately 30% of all ballots cast were submitted by mail accounting for about 47 million votes. 

What are the benefits of voting by mail? 

  • Convenience: Voters can review their ballots at home and take all the time they need to study the candidates and issues.
  • Accessibility: Mail voting is a necessary option for people who are elderly or sick and for people with disabilities. It is also a crucial option for individuals who work long hours, travel for work, pleasure, or school, work and/or live overseas, serve in the military, and for students who attend school out-of-state far from home. The option to vote by mail allows people to fulfill their civic duty without compromising their health or their roles as caregivers, employees, or students.
  • Reduced Wait Times: Voting by mail helps reduce the number of people in line on Election Day, and therefore makes voting less time consuming for those who vote in-person. 
  • Higher Turnout: Studies have shown that reducing unnecessary barriers to vote by mail — especially by automatically mailing every voter a ballot — significantly increases voter turnout. This is important because as voter turnout increases, our government becomes more representative of its people. 
  • Cost-Savings: States that conduct elections almost entirely by mail report that the change resulted in significant cost savings for the state. Because of the reduced cost of provisional ballots, polling locations, and poll workers, states report saving between 30-50% of election associated costs. 
  • Economic Impact: Long lines for in-person voting negatively impacts local economies. A study conducted on the impact of voting by mail, estimated long lines in the 2021 election cost Americans $544 million in lost productivity and wages, disproportionately impacting Black communities, low-income communities, and communities of color.

Is it safe to vote by mail?

Voting by mail is a safe, secure, and reliable method of voting. Many safeguards are in place in order to ensure the security of voting by mail:

  • Ballot Tracking: Many states allow voters to track their mailed ballot to see when it has been received and accepted.
  • Verification: Before a mail-in ballot can be counted, election officials must verify it by checking to ensure the voter’s information on file matches what is on the ballot.
  • Chain-of-Custody: Each state has strict procedures to ensure that ballots are always accounted for, handled appropriately, and kept in secure locations.
  • Packaging: Most states use some form of tamper-proof envelopes for mail-in ballots.

Numerous studies have confirmed that fraud associated with voting by mail is extremely rare. When these rare instances of fraud do occur, they are caught and the offenders are quickly prosecuted with quite severe legal penalties often including large fines and jail time. 

How do I vote by mail?

Voting by mail is different in each state and sometimes between counties. First, make sure to register to vote or check your voter registration status. Then, check your state’s voting options, deadlines and whether you need an excuse to vote by mail. 

There are two important deadlines:

  • Requesting a ballot: This is the date by which you must request a ballot
  • Returning a ballot: This is the date by which you must return your ballot. Pay attention to the date that your ballot must be received by election officials, not just when it must be postmarked.

Once you know your state’s requirements and deadlines, you can request and cast a ballot by mail using these four steps:

What is the difference between postmarked and received-by deadlines for mailed ballots?

When returning your ballot by mail, check if your state has a ‘postmarked by’ and/or a ‘received by’ deadline.

Postmarked by means your ballot needs a postmark from the post office on or before that deadline, usually Election Day. A postmark is a marking, usually a stamp, that shows the location and date that a piece of mail was accepted by the postal service. Even if it arrives days later, it still counts. Many states give ballots a short grace period after Election Day to make it through the mail to arrive, but not all states.

If you plan to mail your ballot on or close to Election Day, be sure to take your ballot to the USPS counter to get it stamped by the clerk, rather than dropping it in a mailbox where it may not be stamped the same day.

Received by means your ballot must physically arrive at the election office by the deadline — no matter when you mailed it. If it’s late, it won’t count. Voters in states with “received by” deadlines should plan ahead to allow sufficient time for their ballot to travel through the postal system, or return their ballot in person to ensure it is received by the deadline. 

The United States Postal Service recommends mailing your ballot at least one week before it’s due.

Check your state’s mail-in ballot deadlines to make sure your vote counts. Knowing whether it must be postmarked or received by the deadline can help you plan ahead.

What options do I have if there is an issue with my mail ballot?

Some states allow voters to fix, or “cure,” issues with their mail and/or provisional ballots, such as a missing signature. If there’s a problem with your ballot, election officials typically contact you by email, phone, or mail. 

To have your ballot counted, you may need to provide identifying information to verify your eligibility. Curing deadlines vary by state and locality, so be sure to check Rock the Vote’s Ballot Curing Tool and proactively contact your local election official about any issues.

If you damage your ballot or make a mistake while completing it, you will need to request a replacement to ensure your vote is accurately recorded. If you are voting by mail, contact your local election official for instructions on requesting a new ballot. If you are voting in person, ask a poll worker for assistance.

If your ballot never arrived in the mail, was lost, or you forgot it, each state has a process for issuing a replacement. In some cases, you may be asked to complete a provisional ballot, which will be counted once election officials verify that you have not already voted. Check your state’s in-person voting options or contact your local election official if you did not receive your ballot.

Is paid postage required to mail my ballot?

Some jurisdictions cover the cost of postage by sending voters a prepaid return envelope that does not require a stamp. In other jurisdictions, voters are responsible for providing their own postage. If postage is required, always make sure you include the correct postage amount. For example, ballots in North Carolina cost $1.77 to mail; that’s three forever stamps.

Always review the instructions included with your ballot, which will clearly state whether postage is required. For the most up-to-date information for your area, you can also contact your local election office.

Are there any threats to vote by mail? 

During the 2020 Presidential Election, as more voters used mail-in ballots because of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Donald Trump started to spread false information about mail-in voting.

U.S. courts found no evidence of widespread irregularities and rejected President Trump’s false allegations; however, misinformation about the security of voting by mail had already influenced public opinion and continued to spread.

Some elected officials played on people’s doubts and leveraged this misinformation to attack mail-in voting. Multiple states have suffered from attempts to ban designated ballot drop boxes, eliminate ballot curing procedures, and repeal no excuse mail-in voting laws.

In March 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order that among other election related efforts, sought to coerce states into changing their mail and absentee ballot deadlines and signaled the President’s plans to reduce access to mail-in voting. In the same month, Utah passed legislation to end universal vote-by-mail in the state starting in 2029, marking the first time a state has walked back a universal mail voting policy.

In August 2025, President Trump announced plans for an Executive Order that would eliminate mail-in voting by the 2026 midterms. 

In the days surrounding the 2025 Elections, President Trump restarted his criticism of vote by mail. He questioned the legality of states that conduct elections almost entirely by mail and the grace period several states give for ballots making their way through the mail after being postmarked on or before Election Day.

A week after the 2025 Election, The Supreme Court announced plans to hear a case that would determine whether states can count mail-ballots received after Election Day. 

What would happen if voting by mail was reduced or eliminated?

Voting by mail is a voting method that millions of Americans rely on — especially senior citizens, people with disabilities, rural residents, people of color, college students, and working-class Americans. The elimination of voting by mail would prevent millions of voters from casting a ballot.

Additionally, several states would be forced to overhaul their entire voting system, as their current systems are set up to rely almost entirely on mail in ballots. These potential overhauls would be costly, time consuming, and confusing for voters, ultimately leading to the suppression of voters who were unaware of these changes, if they were to occur.

How can I support mail-in voting?

Voting by mail is about more than politics — it breaks down barriers to the ballot box and allows voters to cast their ballots on their own timeline. Contact your elected officials and let them know that voting by mail is an important option for voters like you. 

Before you vote, learn about the dates, procedures, and requirements to submit your mail-in ballot, and make a plan to ensure your voice is heard.

Rock the Vote Resources:

Additional Resources:

Published November 14, 2025


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