Are mail in ballots different than absentee

In the United States, "mail-in ballots" and "absentee ballots" are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two.

Absentee Ballots:

An absentee ballot is a ballot that is cast by a voter who is unable to vote in person on Election Day due to a specific reason, such as:

  1. Being out of town on Election Day
  2. Having a disability that prevents them from voting in person
  3. Being a member of the military or a civilian living overseas
  4. Being a student or worker away from home on Election Day

To request an absentee ballot, voters typically need to fill out a request form and provide a valid reason for why they cannot vote in person. The ballot is then mailed to the voter, who completes it and returns it to the election office by a specified deadline.

Mail-in Ballots:

A mail-in ballot, on the other hand, is a ballot that is automatically sent to all registered voters in a jurisdiction, allowing them to vote by mail without needing to request an absentee ballot. This is often referred to as "universal vote-by-mail" or "all-mail elections."

In a mail-in election, all voters are sent a ballot, and they can complete it and return it to the election office by a specified deadline. This system is designed to increase voter turnout and make voting more convenient.

Key differences:

  1. Request requirement: Absentee ballots require a voter to request one, while mail-in ballots are automatically sent to all registered voters.
  2. Reason for voting by mail: Absentee ballots are typically requested due to a specific reason (e.g., being out of town), while mail-in ballots are available to all voters, regardless of reason.
  3. Voter registration: In some jurisdictions, voters may need to be registered to vote in order to receive a mail-in ballot, while absentee ballots may not require registration.

In summary, while both absentee and mail-in ballots allow voters to cast their ballots by mail, the key difference lies in the request requirement, reason for voting by mail, and voter registration requirements.