Absentee-by-mail ballots are paper ballots that are mailed to voters who must then fill them out and return them, often with the voter's signature and sometimes a witness signature to prove the voter's identity. In 35 states and Washington, D.C., any qualified voter may vote absentee-by-mail without offering an excuse, and in the remaining states, an excuse is required. For example, Georgia allows anyone to vote by mail while voters in New York can’t vote absentee by mail unless they are out of town on Election Day, ill, disabled, taking care of someone who is ill or disabled, in a Veterans Health Administration hospital, or in jail for a non felony offense.
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Yes, but we should create an online alternative to where you can either vote from a Government monitored website or app to vote.
That's an intriguing perspective. Estonia, for instance, has successfully implemented online voting since 2005. It offers convenience and accessibility, potentially boosting voter turnout. Yet, with the growing sophistication of cyber threats, how can we ensure the security and integrity of an online voting system?
@9M56RRW1yr1Y
Mail in ballots should only be used by voters who are physically incapable of making it to a polling location or required to be out of the area on election day.
@9DCBMGJ2yrs2Y
No, mail in ballots should be abolished
@9F56K6ZLibertarian2yrs2Y
No. This has compromised elections and has made the majority of the public not trust the outcomes.
@VulcanMan6 2yrs2Y
Actually, mail-in ballots have been used for decades without issue, and the only people who distrust (or blatantly deny) election outcomes are conspiracy theorists who fall for anti-democratic propaganda.
@GratefulPeacock2yrs2Y
While it's true that mail-in ballots have been used in some capacity for years, it's also important to note that the scale of their use in recent times is unprecedented. This has led to logistical challenges and concerns about potential errors or fraud. For example, in the 2020 New York primary, over 20% of mail-in ballots were invalidated due to errors in completion or delivery issues. While this doesn't necessarily indicate widespread fraud, it does highlight potential vulnerabilities in the system.
As for the distrust in election outcomes, it's not limited to conspiracy… Read more
@VulcanMan6 2yrs2Y
Unfortunately, this country seems to actively make it as unnecessarily complicated and/or difficult as possible to vote, which is a huge problem, especially considering how already anti-democratic our political system is.
More transparency and accountability of media sources that promote and spread lies and conspiracies about "mass voter fraud" and "stolen elections" and other propagandized rhetoric would significantly reduce the amount of public distrust and misinformation about our elections. Overall, our election process should be much more accessible and streamlined,… Read more
@9BLQ5YS2yrs2Y
No, but make voting compulsory
@9CRZVKLIndependent2yrs2Y
Yes, and make voting compulsory but add stricter requirements for eligibility and verification
@9DQ572G2yrs2Y
No but make it easier to get one
@9D6CJQQ2yrs2Y
Voting should be done online
@9GVQQKS2yrs2Y
No, but make voting compulsory by making Election Day a national holiday so that people may have the opportunity to vote in person
@9DX6QM92yrs2Y
No, and ban mail in ballots
@9D3RPBQ2yrs2Y
Voting should not be compulsory due to how coercive and Unethical it can be, Also it undermines democracy. Also voting should be voluntary and participatory
@9D3YL4B2yrs2Y
Require it to be requested and make it easier to request.
@9F56TK6Republican 2yrs2Y
No, mail in ballots should only be used by the elderly over 75 years of age or the disabled with proof of ID and written authorization from their physician.
@9J92TWT2yrs2Y
I feel that mail-in ballots should be sent out per the request of the voter, but there should be a thorough verification process for these ballots. Consistently, I feel that in-person voting should require photo-ID as a form of verification.
@9CZNQCY2yrs2Y
no, but voting should be compulsory
@9CMSYSL2yrs2Y
No, and we should ban all mail-in ballot voting in order to prevent another rigged election.
@KYYCCCLibertarian2yrs2Y
No, but create an online voting system
@9BHQL292yrs2Y
No, and we should ban all mail-in ballot voting in order to prevent another rigged election. The 2020 presidential election was a rigged election and was not conducted fairly.
@9DGSS2N2yrs2Y
No don’t even use mail in ballots at all.
@9DBL8362yrs2Y
No but every voter should be given the option to vote by mail if preferred
@9D8BJFQIndependent2yrs2Y
This can be decided at the state level but I think it should be a national holiday so everyone has it off and has the ability time to vote if they want to.
@9CX9ZGR2yrs2Y
No. Make Election Day a federal holiday.
@9CC6W3D2yrs2Y
Yes, and make voting easier
@B6R6GMV1wk1W
Yes, and offer tax credits, public transit vouchers, and student loan rebates for verified participation; designate election day as a national paid holiday; expand early voting; allow citizens to opt into post-election surveys or policy feedback panels; and deploy ADA-compliant mobile voting vans staffed by trained election officials to nursing homes, care facilities, rural areas, and shelters; allow mail-in ballots to be dropped off in secure boxes at libraries, grocery stores, and community centers; and allow digital voting and tracking via smartphone or computer with robust regulations.
@B3VGV2T 2wks2W
Automatic mail-in ballots for every voter is a highly debated topic with arguments for and against the practice. Several states, including California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, already conduct elections this way.
Arguments in favor of automatic mail-in ballots
Proponents of sending ballots to every voter argue that it expands access and improves voter satisfaction.
Increases voter turnout: By making voting more convenient, it can increase turnout, particularly for younger voters, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities who may face barriers to in-p… Read more
@B6NN95B 2wks2W
No, you need to opt-in every time you register to vote, but it should still be an option available to voters.
@B6NHV4F2wks2W
Yes, but voting via Internet should rapidly be an encouraged option, as it is in Estonia and Iceland.
@B6LZ98PIndependent2wks2W
Those incapable of making it should automatically receive one, but those capable should be able to request one.
@B6KG8743wks3W
Only if they are disabled or elderly, and add stricter requirements for eligibility and veridication
@B6G3YTD1mo1MO
I think we should all have the right to have a male invalid for any reason if requested and voting should be compulsory
@B6F8X751mo1MO
No, there should be a national voting/polling day wherein citizens eligible to vote have a recognized holiday (outside of polling staff and any personnel required to administer the capture of votes) so that they can vote in-person. Mail-in ballots should be an option that is required for any state to offer to citizens but is individually paid for by the voter. Convenience isn't free and neither is time. Both citizens and the government share the responsibility and benefits here.
@B6DZMXR1mo1MO
Yes, this gives more people the chance to vote because they don't have to apply/ask for a mail in ballot
@B65TMYJ1mo1MO
No, mail in ballots should be able to be used by everyone, but only upon request, not automatically.
@B63ZJ8J2mos2MO
No, mail in ballots should not be used at all. Voters who are physically incapable of making it to a polling station ought to have a visiting official provided for the purpose of registering their vote.
@B63KTYL2mos2MO
Only by request mail in should be done but otherwise i have no issue porch bandits are a huge problem in most places
@B63JXRT 2mos2MO
It would be too expensive to send them to people who don't ask for them and prefer to vote in person.
Voting should be mandatory and mail in should only be used by those who can’t make it to a polling location
Deleted2mos2MO
NO... a balanced implementation with transparent accountability, public education, and technical infrastructure to ensure that the expansion of access does not come at the cost of electoral legitimacy.
no because there is no way to protect the accuracy of who actually received the ballot if the recorded address of the voter is incorrect
Voters should be able to opt in to automatically be mailed a ballot, but not if they don’t ask for it.
@B5VS726Independent 3mos3MO
No and provide public transport for voters who are physically incapable of making it to a voting location on their own.
@B5T6WQ6 3mos3MO
No, they have to register for a mail-in ballot. Giving everyone a mail-in ballot will likely lead to wasted resources.
@B5P6G8R3mos3MO
No, but voting should be mandatory at 18, and voting day should be a federal holiday. You should be allowed the option to request a mail in ballot, and automatically receive one if you're on disability.
@B5MGM6J3mos3MO
Allow folks to choose how they can vote. Allow folks to request to vote by mail months before a election or vote in person.
@B5F5KDP 4mos4MO
they should be automatically sent to college students not living at home and those who cannot leave the house
@B55P9Z44mos4MO
Yes and make voting compulsory. It would be hilarious if Taylor Swift was voted as president. Mostly joking here but still.
@B54PMSW4mos4MO
Yes, but i think you should be able to do it from your phone or computer. Just put in your info and you vote. And it should be compulsory.
@B4VCZD45mos5MO
I think there should be a way for these voters to let the government know they can't vote in-person, so then they'll receive a ballot in the mail.
@B4S4QRZ5mos5MO
No, they should receive a mail-in ballot if their identity and citizenship have been proven and they have indicated that they would like to receive a mail-in ballot.
@B4S4F285mos5MO
Not automatically, but they should be able to request a mail in ballot as long as they verify their identity.
@B4KLCSB5mos5MO
People should only receive a mail in ballot only after they verified that they are a citizen and reside in the state that they want to vote in
Deleted5mos5MO
Yes, but eventually improve the technology where you can vote online, while still having strict requirements for eligibility and verification
@B495TW95mos5MO
Yes, every voter should receive a mail-in ballot with clear instructions to ensure the vote will count. The voter's party registration and voting decision should be kept confidential.
@B3ZYM5D6mos6MO
No, for the sake of the integrity of the vote and defending our beloved democracy and republic, mail in ballots should only be used by voters who are physically incapable of making it to a polling location
@B3VMXRF6mos6MO
Should be able to vote with cell phone or other technology if done right implementing the correct security measures
@B3GZN7W6mos6MO
from the context and question the only part that sound very reasonable would be if they are "out of town on Election Day, I'll, disabled, taking care of someone who is I'll or disabled, in a Veterans Health Administration hospital, or in jail for an non felony offense."
@B3G5BMN 6mos6MO
When a citizen wants one, then yes but if they plan to go to a voting station, then not necessary to receive one by mail
@B3DPRMP6mos6MO
Yes, in case they go out of town leading up to an election or they’ve got college students located out of state.
@B2ZXTX77mos7MO
No. Mail-in ballots should only be sent to those who request them. They shouldn't need any justification for this.
If they ask for one then they should get one sent in the mail but they first have to asked to be sent one.
Yes, until such time as a secure electronic method of voting remotely can be developed, tested, and implemented.
@B2R8CT87mos7MO
no because I think it would be expensive and many people are happy to travel to vote, but we need to help low incoe people to be able to vote
@B2Q9CDP7mos7MO
I don’t care but they should be available to disabled or sick people who can’t make it to the polls.
@B2KTCXT7mos7MO
no make Election Day a federal holiday and mail in ballots should be used during a pandemic or for voters who are physically incapable of making it to a polling location
@9PDJD35Republican 8mos8MO
yes, but make Election Day a federal holiday and only allow mail in ballots if a heath crisis is occurring
@B2C8RWR8mos8MO
I think it shouldn`t be a requirement. But I did think it should be an option because I might be more comfortable with mail-in the ballot.
@B28ZXZV8mos8MO
No only for certain people. Also I'm anti-democratic. I don't believe it is the best form of governance. I would prefer monarchy or anarcho-capitalism
@9ZZ6DYQ9mos9MO
Yes, however, only if they ask for one, in other words, the current rules and laws in the initiative.
No, because it would be very hard to make sure that the vote was made by that person and not by another.
@9ZSJ7FW9mos9MO
No but every voter should be able to apply for mail in voting and choose to do it if they do not wish to vote in person.
@9ZSB9FM9mos9MO
I feel like there is good and bad here. I feel like as long as they are voting, they are doing their part. They are still going to make in impact. But if you can make it to the in person voting then they should.
@LoneLupari10mos10MO
No. Greater systems should be created to help those physically incapable of reaching a polling location.
@9ZJP59Z10mos10MO
Ballots should be received in the mail but in order to submit must be turned in in person with ID verification
@9ZFQKYQ10mos10MO
Yes, mail in ballots should be automatic and the 2 affidavits should be enough. A copy of a license isn’t easy without access to a printer. The mail return should also be covered
@9ZDDJXSConstitution 10mos10MO
Many voters are low income and don’t have transportation or the means to pay someone to drive them, or are disabled or work more than 2 jobs making difficult to get to a poll, more often than not live outside city limits making it difficult to vote due to lack of money for gas. We should all have the ability to vote by mail.
@9ZC2FQT10mos10MO
Yes, but every issue and position being voted on should have information, for and against, and political stances, from candidates, on all issues.
@9Z9L7HP 10mos10MO
No I want all mail-in ballots stopped I want male and ballots only to those who are physically incapable of going through the polls I feel that everyone should have a voice. So those who cannot come to a pole should be allowed their voice in a way that works for them but I don't feel that should be mail-in ballots I feel that should be something that can also capture the person's ID and a picture of them to ensure their identities.
@9Z97M4W10mos10MO
No, but the process to elect to receive one should be easy, and all states should be required to track ballots and make the information accessible so voters can be sure their ballot was counted
@9YMR7XM10mos10MO
Given technology today the government should be able to create an online system which votes can log into via phone, PC, or public library/town office and vote that way. They should also be able to log in after elections to ensure their vote was represented correctly.
@9YHC2RV10mos10MO
No, mail in ballots should only be used for military members that are stationed outside of the U.S. on election years.
@9YH7RZZ 10mos10MO
Technology should be utilized so that you can vote through your phone using encrypted security protocols. This would track all eligible voters easier and prevent fraud.
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