Whether or not registered voters should be able to mail in a vote has long been a contentious topic. The 2020 presidential election is unlike any election before it due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Large gatherings such as in-person voting could result in the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which states want to avoid. Due to this reason, many states have amended voter laws to allow an exception for mail-in ballots this year.
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, August 2020 information compiled by RepresentUs and The Brookings Institution, and each state's official website, Stacker compiled the mail-in voting policies and the voting-eligible population for every state. Deadlines to request and submit absentee ballots vary by state, as do requirements like notary or witness signatures on absentee ballots and whether copies of photo IDs are necessary for ballots to be counted.
Many Americans wonder whether a more significant number of mail-in ballots will show a bigger voter turnout. However, not all states are on board with widespread absentee ballots, and have not amended laws to make voting easier. A few states require voters to have a valid excuse (usually military, age, religious, disability, or absentee reasons) to request a mail-in ballot.
Oregon, Washington, and Utah stand out as the few states that automatically send absentee ballots to voters every year. Oregon began sending ballots to voters in 2000, and the state has seen a much more massive voter turnout as a result.
Other states with a large voter population, such as New York, have amended state law this year and are expected to make significant changes in the upcoming presidential election. New York will send absentee ballots to active and inactive voters this year, which will likely make a huge impact, as there are 13,686,685 residents of voting age.
States that do not allow for mail-in ballots without a valid excuse may see a decrease in votes this year, as many voters do not want to risk contracting COVID-19 to cast a vote. Allowing a broader sampling of voters to cast a mail-in ballot does make it easier for people to vote. One downside to mail-in voting is that it takes longer to count votes. Recent moves by the United States Postal Service's new postmaster general prompted fears that mail delays would cause votes to go uncounted; on Aug. 18 it was announced that the policy changes resulting in delays would be halted until after the presidential election. It's unclear if the USPS will undo cuts already in place or just delay additional measures from being implemented.
Read on to find out the voting requirements in every state.
You may also like: Most and least popular governors in America
