The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 1, 2022
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Rock the Vote – Absentee Ballot Rules for Each State — but your local election officials are your best resource!
MIT Election Data Lab – Voting by mail and absentee voting
National Conference of State Legislatures – Voting Outside the Polling Place: Absentee, All-Mail and other Voting at Home Options
National Conference of State Legislatures – Each State’s “Excuses” to Vote by Absentee Ballot
Pew Trust – Voters with Disabilities Face New Ballot Restrictions Ahead of Midterms
AARP – Attention Voters: Time is Running Out to Request Mail-in, Absentee Ballots
Groups Taking Action:
Voting Rights Alliance, ACLU, AARP, American Association of People with Disabilities
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
As a voter, you may never have used an absentee ballot, which is a legitimate & secure way of voting for millions. Today we’re covering the basics of voting by absentee.
If you’re sick, can’t get off work, out of town, or disabled, most states allow for you to use one. You must first apply, so that means contacting your city or county elections office or website for details. You will be given an application, your voter registration checked, and asked to provide ID. In most states, this can be done through the mail, provided you can send a copy of your ID.
Fifteen states use a No Excuse absentee system. It requires that you apply each time and provide identification or verification, but no specific reason needs to be given. Ballots are mailed to you, then mailed back, dropped off in person, or depending on state rules, returned by family members or someone you designate.
For absentee ballots, there is typically an “outer” envelope and an “inner” envelope. After completing your absentee, the inner envelope that contains the ballot usually has a sworn affidavit, signature line and date. Make sure to put a return address on the outer envelope, and provide postage if it’s not prepaid. The lack of any one of these can invalidate your ballot, so follow the directions!
In most state’s there’s still time to get an absentee ballot if you need it, but do now.
We have a link to Rock the Vote’s tool to find absentee voting rules in each state at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.