Political Awareness

Initial Military Exemptions

The history of absentee voting in the United States goes back before the Civil War, with the earliest examples appearing in the 1800s. During the War of 1812, Pennsylvania and New Jersey gave soldiers pre-printed envelopes to cast legislative votes. Later, during the Civil War, seven of the eleven Confederate states developed provisions for soldiers to vote when they were not near their polling precinct. Most of the Union states also provided absentee voting for service members during the 1864 presidential election. The same pattern emerged in later conflicts such as World War I, where nearly all states allowed service members to vote away from home during wartime. 

Civilian Absentee Voting

During World War I, exceptions were also made for non-military workers who had a valid reason for not being able to cast a ballot on election day, such as those working as traveling salesmen or for the railroad industry. Following the end of the war and the increase in industrialization and transportation, the United States became a much more mobile country, leading to increased debate on the necessity of absentee voting. However, for decades, only those who could provide a specific reason for absentee voting could do so.

In 1978, California became the first state to offer no-excuse absentee voting to all residents. Oregon was also an early adopter of absentee voting, hosting the first entirely mail-in federal primary in 1995, followed by the first entirely mail-in general election in 1996. Fast-forwarding to the present day, twenty-nine states allow for no-excuse absentee voting, and eight states conduct all-mail elections. Approximately 1 in 4 voters voted absentee during the 2016 presidential election. 

Pros

• Improved Turnout: Multiple studies have shown that states that allow absentee voting have higher turnout on average. States adopting absentee voting experienced an average 5% boost in turnout during subsequent elections. Youth turnout appears to be the most affected.

• Disabled Voters: Despite polling locations being required by law to be accessible to those with disabilities, by featuring ramps, accessible entrances, language interpreters, and screen readers, just physically getting to a polling location can be difficult for those with chronic illnesses. Absentee voting allows those with these disabilities to vote from the safety of their own home.

• Informed Voters: Proponents note that absentee voters can research candidates thoroughly at home while filling out their ballots. In theory, this means that those voting absentee can be more informed than those voting in person. 

Cons

• Election Integrity: Detractors of absentee voting argue that it increases the risk of election fraud. Critics highlight instances of duplicate ballots sent to single addresses or ballots mailed to deceased individuals. While these occurrences are rare, they still happen.

• Voter Intimidation: Given the private nature of absentee voting, concerns are being raised over the potential for voter intimidation and bribery. Without poll watchers present, activists or caregivers could improperly influence how voters mark their ballots. Because voter intimidation is difficult to prove and track, reliable data on its frequency remains scarce.

• Election Reporting Delays: When absentee ballots are allowed to be received following election day, this can lead to delays in reporting, as it takes much longer to tally all absentee ballots. Most races avoid disruptions because officials declare winners before counting final mail-in ballots. However, in tighter races, this can lead to reporting delays. 

Outlook

As absentee voting has transformed from a wartime measure to a more permanent fixture of American elections, the debate over its implementation remains highly polarized along partisan lines. While some states such as Oregon and California have implemented mail-in systems with high public satisfaction, other states are still working to implement their own systems in a way that makes it convenient for voters, while still maintaining election security. Growing popularity has fueled demands for strict voter ID rules, signature verification, and limits on ballot collection. While the future of absentee voting remains unclear, one thing is certain: voters now expect flexibility, and finding a balance between accessibility and security is key to creating an absentee system that will work in the future.

Disclaimer

Note: Political Awareness never authorizes its published communication on behalf of any candidate or their committees.

Note: This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Political Awareness Super PAC staff. Paid for by Political Awareness Super PAC FEC ID C00892364. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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