US polls 2024: Voting by Mail: Step-by-Step Guide to Make Sure Your Vote Counts

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voting by mail, is crucial to ensure your vote counts.

Understanding Voting Methods

In the United States, several terms describe voting methods:

• Absentee Voting: Available for those unable to reach polling places on Election Day. Voters can mail their ballots or drop them off in person.
• Voting by Mail: This allows voters to request mail ballots and cast their votes by mail.
• All-Mail Elections: In these elections, all registered voters automatically receive their ballots by mail and can return them by mail or in person.

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Historical Context

Absentee voting has been an option in the U.S. since the late 1800s, initially for non-military voters unable to vote in person. In the 1980s, California became the first state to allow absentee voting for any reason, including convenience. Today, 28 states offer no-excuse absentee voting, with eight states conducting all-mail elections, including Oregon, California, and Colorado.

Key Facts About Mail Voting

• Ballot Distribution:
  • Ten states mail ballots to voters more than 45 days before the election.
  • Eleven states send them out 45 days before.
  • Fourteen states distribute them 30-45 days before, while another fourteen do so less than 30 days prior.
• Military and Overseas Voting: All states must send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters for federal elections. Regulations vary by state for in-country postal voting.
• Increase in Mail Voting: The percentage of mail ballots has risen significantly, from 8% in 1996 to 32% in 2022. It peaked at 43% during the 2020 pandemic.

Voting by Mail: How to Do It

To ensure your vote counts, follow these steps: