What's the difference between absentee voting and mail in voting
Absentee voting and mail-in voting are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two:
Absentee Voting:
Absentee voting refers to the process of casting a ballot in person at a designated location, such as a county clerk's office or a polling station, after requesting an absentee ballot. The voter must typically provide a reason for not being able to vote in person on Election Day, such as being out of town, having a disability, or serving in the military. The absentee ballot is then filled out and returned to the election office by mail or in person.
Mail-In Voting:
Mail-in voting, also known as vote-by-mail or all-mail voting, is a process where voters are automatically sent a ballot by mail, and they can fill it out and return it by mail without having to go to a polling station. In some states, mail-in voting is also referred to as "universal vote-by-mail" or "all-mail voting."
The key differences between absentee voting and mail-in voting are:
- Requesting a ballot: With absentee voting, the voter must request an absentee ballot from the election office, whereas with mail-in voting, the ballot is automatically sent to the voter.
- Filling out the ballot: With absentee voting, the voter must fill out the ballot in person at the designated location, whereas with mail-in voting, the voter can fill out the ballot at home and return it by mail.
- Return method: With absentee voting, the ballot can be returned by mail or in person, whereas with mail-in voting, the ballot is typically returned by mail.
- Availability: Absentee voting is often available only for specific circumstances, such as being out of town or having a disability, whereas mail-in voting is often available to all eligible voters.
In summary, absentee voting is a process where voters request and fill out a ballot in person, while mail-in voting is a process where voters are automatically sent a ballot and can fill it out and return it by mail.