Absentee voting, that is, systems that allow voters to vote at a voting location other than the voting station (or stations) at which they appear on the normal voters list, is an additional voting facility that can considerably increase accessibility to the voting process.
For many voters, absentee voting facilities may be the most practicable means by which they may participate in voting. This would include voters, for example, who:
• For employment, security or other reasons are, on voting day, away from the area in which they are registered to vote;
• Are confined to institutions through illness or disability.
However, the more extensive absentee voting facilities are in order to increase accessibility, the greater the cost in additional materials and in the complexity and quality of systems that need to be implemented to control its integrity.
This latter requirement needs to be very carefully considered when determining which, if any, methods of absentee voting are to be included in legal frameworks and implemented.
This section should be read in conjunction with Early voting. In many environments absentee voting facilities may also cater to persons voting in advance of the general voting day or days, either in person or by mail.
Potential Frameworks
frameworks for absentee voting could allow absentee voting:
• In advance of voting day, or on voting day, or both;
• Only at voting stations within the voter's electoral district of registration, or at voting locations within a restricted range of electoral districts, or at voting locations in any electoral district in which voting is being conducted, or include locations outside the country in which the election is being conducted (see Voting in a foreign country)
• At special voting stations or locations for absentee votes (often electoral administration offices), or in conjunction with normal voting at regular voting stations, or both;
• By voters attending a voting location in person, or voting by mail, or both;
• Through prior application or registration by voters, or be available to any voter attending a voting location designated for absentee voting.
The greater the number of choices provided to voters in the methods and locations of absentee voting available, the more complex the system will be to administer and the more intensive controls and more experienced staff will be required.
More complex systems of absentee voting--those allowing voters wide freedom of choice in the voting station at which they may vote or combining on-voting day absentee voting with absentee voting in advance of voting day--would generally only be considered for implementation when there is strong and experienced central management oversight of election processes.
Issues for Consideration
In implementing frameworks and procedures for absentee voting, there are a number of significant issues that require consideration, including:
• What conditions, if any, must a voter satisfy to be eligible for an absentee vote (see Qualifications and Eligibility Procedures)
• Where may a voter have an absentee vote--for example, only within the electoral district within which the voter is registered, or in some wider area (see Locations for absentee voting)?
• How is it determined at a voting station if a voter is eligible for an absentee vote (see Qualifications and Eligibility procedures)?
• Should the ballot format for absentee votes be the same as or different from that used for normal votes (see Absentee ballot forms)?
• What arrangements are appropriate for counting absentee votes
