Early Voting, Absentee Voting, and Voting by Mail
Is Giving Voters More Options a Good Idea?
Charles Stewart IIIMIT
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014Election year
Election Day
Source: Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement, various years
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014Election year
Election Day
Absentee/mail
Source: Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement, various years
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014Election year
Early in-person
Absentee/mail
Election Day
Source: Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement, various years
Flavors of Pre-Election Day Voting
• Traditional classifications
– Absentee voting• Excuse required
• No-excuse
– Permanent
– Early voting• How many sites?
• How many days?
Flavors of Pre-Election Day Voting
• Traditional classifications
– Absentee voting• Excuse required
• No-excuse
– Permanent
– Early voting• How many sites?
• How many days?
• New complications
– Vote-by-mail
– Early voting by other means
– Vote centers
Source: http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/absentee-and-early-voting.aspx
6 28 3 14
Source: http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/absentee-and-early-voting.aspx
Permanent absentee voting (8)
6 28 3 14
Source: http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/news/2015/01/15/use-of-vote-centers-on-the-rise-nationwide
0
1 0
1
01Mail
Election Day
Early
MENH
VT
MARICTNY
NJPA
OHINIL
MI
WI
MN
IA
MO
ND
SDNE
KS
KEMD
DCVA
WV
NC
SCGAFL
KY
TN
ALMS
AR
LAOK
TX
MT
ID
WY
CO
NM
AZ
UT
NV
WA
OR
CA
AKHI
2000
Source: Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement
0
1 0
1
01Mail
Election Day
Early
ME
NH
VT
MARI
CTNYNJPA
OHIN
IL
MI
WINM
IA
MO
ND
SD
NE
KS
DEMD
DC
VA
WV
NC
SC
GA
FL
KY
TN
ALMS
AR
LA
OK
TX
MT
ID
WY
CONM
AZ
UT
NV
WA
OR
CA
AK
HI
2004
Source: Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement
0
1 0
1
01Mail
Election Day
Early
AL
AK
AZ
ARCA
CO
CTDE
FL
GA
HI
IDIL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MDMA
MI
MNMS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NHNJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PARI
SCSD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
2008
Source: Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement
0
1 0
1
01Mail
Election Day
Early
AK
AZ
ARCA
CO
CCT
DE
DC
FL
GA
HI
IDIL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN MSMO
MT
NE
NV
NJ
NM
NY
NCND
OH
OK
OR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WVWI
WY
2012
Source: Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement
0
1 0
1
01Mail
Election Day
Early
AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CTDE
DC
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MSMO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NCND
OH
OK
OR
PARI
SC
SD
TN
TXUT
VT
VA
WA
WVWI
WY
2014
Source: Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement
Who Uses Early and Absentee Voting?
Who Uses Early and Absentee Voting?Party
Election Day Early In-Person Absentee
Democrat 49.6% 26.5% 23.8%
Republican 53.1% 23.8% 23.1%
Independent 52.8% 23.2% 24.0%
Source: Cooperative Congressional Election Study, 2012
Note: Excludes “traditional” states and all-mail states
Who Uses Early and Absentee Voting?Interest in News/Public Affairs
Election Day Early In-Person Absentee
Most of the time 49.2% 27.0% 23.7%
Some of the time 55.0% 22.3% 22.8%
Only now and then 57.9% 18.7% 23.4%
Hardly at all 58.9% 16.1% 25.1%
Source: Cooperative Congressional Election Study, 2012
Note: Excludes “traditional” states and all-mail states
Who Uses Early and Absentee Voting?Race
Election Day Early In-Person Absentee
White 53.4% 23.1% 23.5%
Black 46.8% 37.8% 15.4%
Hispanic 47.4% 24.1% 28.5%
All other 51.7% 20.0% 28.4%
Source: Cooperative Congressional Election Study, 2012
Note: Excludes “traditional” states and all-mail states
Policy Considerations
• Convenience
– Societal expectations
• Security
• Costs
• Quality election administration
• Equity
Some Resources
• NCSL (Google “NCSL Early Voting”)
• Early Voting Information Center (EVIC) @ Reed College: earlyvoting.net
• E-mail me: [email protected]