Voting by Mail
Voting by mail is the most widespread form of early or absentee voting. Following request by the voter, voting material is mailed to the voter's specified address by the electoral management body. The voter then completes the ballot and returns it, either by mail or in person, to an electoral management body office. Integrity checks would generally rest on the requirement for a statement of the voter's identity and eligibility to accompany the returned ballot material. Successful mail voting systems depend on an efficient mail delivery service throughout the area under election. (For infrastructure issues relating to voting by mail, see Communications.)
Integrity Issues
The rather loose nature of possible integrity checks means that mail voting can be regarded as being more likely to be affected by attempted malfeasance. Perceived integrity problems with mail voting include:
- the high level of proof of identity and eligibility standards that can be applied in voting stations cannot be applied to mail voting--particularly where voters themselves provide the address to which mail voting material is despatched;
- there is no opportunity for party or candidate representatives to observe voting by mail;
- it is not feasible to provide complete security for all voting material as it moves through postal systems;
- there can be no guarantee that the voter who signs any declaration accompanying the ballot, in fact completed the ballot or was not subject to influence or intimidation when completing the ballot.
Perceptions of malfeasance can arise where large numbers of mail ballots are received from institutions for the aged and infirm. For this reason mobile voting stations, though more costly, are generally held to be a more effective means of enabling access to voting for voters in care institutions (see Hospitals and Other Care Institutions).
Vote by Mail Elections
In the last decade some jurisdictions have turned to holding elections entirely by mail.2 Analysis of these has revealed cost advantages and generally a positive effect on voter turnout. Particularly where efficient, high volume automated mail contractors are available, this voting method can produce considerable administrative advantages, although the doubts about assuring total integrity of mail voting still remain. In developed societies, vote by mail elections can be seen as a stepping stone from traditional in-person voting methods and the future of voting via personal telecommunications links. (For an example of procedures manuals for a national election implemented entirely by mail, see Manuals for Election by Automated Mail Out, Australia.)
Characteristics of Mail Voting Systems
While mail voting systems differ extensively in detail, there are necessary basic characteristics for any mail voting system. These would include:
A signed request from the voter for a mail ballot. This may need to be in a prescribed form, and may need to be provided for each election or as a request for permanent registration as a mail voter (see below). There would normally be a cut-off date for receipt of such requests, aligned with the time sufficient for the voter to receive and return voting material before the return deadline. (For examples of applications for voting by mail, see Application for a Postal Vote - Australia, 1996 and Absentee Vote Application - United Kingdom.)
Despatch of voting materials to the voter immediately on receipt of the request.
Requirement for the voter to include a signed (and, often, witnessed) statement attesting to his her identity and eligibility to vote with his/her returned ballot.
Use of voting materials that both protect voting integrity and secrecy, even when returned voting material is identified to a specific voter. These may entail double enveloping systems for returned materials, or ballot envelopes with detachable flaps containing voter data (see Postal Vote Certificate Envelope - Australia, 1996). (For further discussion of these methods, see 'Absentee Voting on Application at Voting Station' in Absentee Vote Elegibility Procedures.)
Systems for reconciling early voting materials requested, issued, unused and returned.
A method of return. Some jurisdictions include postage paid return envelopes with voting material sent to the voter. In others the voter is responsible for the return postage. This can make a considerable difference in mail voting costs. It would be generally held that requiring the voter to pay for return postage is a negligible imposition. Additionally, some jurisdictions have successfully used secure drop-in deposit boxes where voters can return mailed ballots by hand without postage.
Methods for determining the eligibility to be included in the count of returned voting material. To assist in maintaining integrity, these would require measures such as comparing signatures on applications for mail votes, and returned declarations of eligibility, with voter registration records, as well as checking dates of recording or return of the vote against cut-off dates.
Checking returned mail voting material against voters lists to ensure that voters do not vote both by mail and in person on voting day. There are two approaches to this. For one, when mail ballot return deadlines are before voting day, the names of voters who have voted by mail can be marked on voters lists before these are provided to voting stations, so that a further normal vote will not be issued. Alternatively, and this can apply whether deadlines for return of mail voting material are before or after voting day, voters lists returned from voting stations are checked against voters who have returned mail ballots. If a voter is marked as having voted at a voting station and has also returned a mail ballot, the mail ballot is disqualified (and appropriate voting investigations commenced).
Ballot count systems that ensure that mail ballots are not counted until after the close of normal voting. Returned mail voting material could, however, be checked for eligibility, ballot envelopes opened and ballots placed in ballot boxes prior to the close of voting in normal voting stations. In some jurisdictions where mail voting closes before voting day, returned mail ballots are despatched to the voting station for which the voter is registered, to be included in the count for that voting station. It would generally be regarded as more effective to count them at a central location.
Permanent Registration of Mail Voters
In some jurisdictions with continuous registration systems, facilities are available for voters to be placed, on application, on permanent registers of mail voters, thus ensuring that they will be automatically despatched voting material for elections for their electoral district. Maintaining this facility can reduce considerably workloads for voting operations staff during the election period and provide a beneficial service to voters.
In some jurisdictions, more restrictive criteria are applied for inclusion on such registers than are applied for eligibility for mail voting in general, such as:
- permanent disability;
- residing a considerable, specified distance from the nearest voting station;
- incarceration (in systems where prisoners may vote).
There would seem to be no compelling reason for introducing any stricter criteria for other early voters (see Early Voting). However, given the lesser controls that can be exercised over the integrity of mail voting, it is important that these permanent registers are regularly reviewed to ensure continuing eligibility of the voters listed.
