An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable or unwilling to attend the official polling station. Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office Abstention is a term in Election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote (on election day or in Parliamentary procedure, is present A ballot is a device (originally a small ball—see blackball) used to record choices made by Voters Each voter uses one ballot and ballots are not A ballot box is a temporarily sealed container usually cuboid though sometimes a tamper resistant bag with a narrow slot in the top sufficient to accept a ballot paper Ballot stuffing is the illegal act of one person submitting multiple Ballots during a Vote in which only one ballot per person is permitted Early voting, is the process which voters can cast their vote on a single or series of days prior to an election Election Day Registration, also known as "same-day voter registration" permits eligible citizens to register and vote on Election Day In Party-list proportional representation systems an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes either None of the Above ( NOTA) or against all is a Ballot choice in some Jurisdictions or Organizations placed so as to allow the The paradox of voting, also referred to as Downs paradox is a reference to the fact that for a rational self-interested Voter, the costs of voting Postal voting describes the method of voting in an election whereby ballot papers are distributed and/or returned by post to electors in contrast to electors voting in person at a A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it In an Open list proportional representation system voters can indicate their preference for a particular individual candidate on a Party list by A Protest vote is a Vote cast in an Election to demonstrate the caster's unhappiness with the choice of candidates or refusal of the current political system A provisional ballot is used to record a vote when there is some question in regards to a given voter's eligibility. A refused ballot, or similar alternative is a choice available to voters in many Elections. The secret ballot is a voting method in which a Voter 's choices are confidential In Voting, a Ballot is considered to be spoilt, void, null or informal if it is regarded by the Election authorities In Voting systems tactical voting (or strategic voting or sophisticated voting) occurs when a voter supports a candidate other than his or her A ticket refers to a single Election choice which fills more than one Political office or seat Ticket Splitters are those who vote for candidates from more than one Political party when they vote for public offices voting on the basis of individual personalities and records A vote center sometimes known as a super precinct is a Polling place that combines multiple precincts allowing voters to choose at which location to vote Vote pairing (or vote swapping as it has also been called is the method where a voter in one district agrees to vote tactically for a less-preferred candidate or party who In Politics, voter fatigue is the apathy that the electorate can experience when they are required to vote too often Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for Citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a Ballot in an Election. A voting booth or polling booth is a room or cabin in a Polling station where voters are able to cast their vote in private to protect the secrecy of the ballot Voting machines are the total combination of mechanical electromechanical or electronic equipment (including Software, Firmware, and documentation required to program Numerous methods have been devised to facilitate this. Increasing the ease of access to absentee ballots are seen by many as one way to improve voter turnout, though some countries require that a valid reason, such as infirmity or travel, be given before a voter can participate in an absentee ballot. Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a Ballot in an Election.
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Methods
Postal voting
In a postal vote, the ballot papers are posted out to the voter - usually only on request - who must then fill them out and return them, often with some form of certification by a witness and their signature to prove their identity. Postal voting describes the method of voting in an election whereby ballot papers are distributed and/or returned by post to electors in contrast to electors voting in person at a
Proxy voting
To cast a proxy vote, the user appoints someone as their proxy, by authorizing them to cast or secure their vote in their stead. Proxy voting and delegated voting are procedures for the Delegation to another member of a Voting body of that member's power to vote in his absence The proxy must be trusted by the voter, as in a secret ballot there is no way of verifying that they voted for the correct candidate. The secret ballot is a voting method in which a Voter 's choices are confidential In an attempt to solve this, it is not uncommon for people to nominate an official of their chosen party as their proxy.
Internet voting
Corporations and organizations routinely use Internet voting to elect officers and Board members and for other proxy elections. Internet voting systems have been used privately in many modern nations and publicly in the United States, France[1], the UK, Switzerland and Estonia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region In Switzerland, where it is already an established part of local referendums, voters get their passwords to access the ballot through the postal service. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Most voters in Estonia can cast their vote in local and parliamentary elections, if they want to, via the Internet, as most of those on the electoral roll have access to an e-voting system. Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region It has been assisted by the fact that most Estonians carry a national identity card equipped with a computer-readable microchip and it is these cards which they use to get access to the online ballot. All a voter needs is a computer, an electronic card reader, their ID card and its PIN, and they can vote from anywhere in the world. Estonian e-votes can only be cast during the days of advance voting. Early voting, is the process which voters can cast their vote on a single or series of days prior to an election On election day itself people have to go to polling stations and fill in a paper ballot.
Absentee ballot examples
Germany
In all Germany elections, postal votes are available on demand. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Postal voting describes the method of voting in an election whereby ballot papers are distributed and/or returned by post to electors in contrast to electors voting in person at a By law there has to be a good reason but there is not even the possibility to name one when applying for a postal vote.
Ireland
In Ireland, postal votes are only available in a restricted set of circumstances. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Postal voting describes the method of voting in an election whereby ballot papers are distributed and/or returned by post to electors in contrast to electors voting in person at a The Irish constitution requires a secret ballot and the courts have interpreted this quite narrowly. The Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann came into force on 29 December 1937 after having been passed by a national plebiscite the previous July Postal votes are available to people who by reason of their occupation, cannot vote normally. They are also available to students living away from home, to people with disabilities, to prisoners (since January 2007), and to long term residents of hospitals, nursing homes and other similar institutions.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, liberalised proxy voting is available. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Voters can authorise someone else to cast their ballot without having to go through a registration procedure. Voters can cast a maximum of 2 proxy votes along with their own ballot. Postal ballots and Internet voting are only available to Dutch citizens living abroad, or having occupational duties abroad on election day. [2]
Switzerland
Postal voting is possible in federal and most canton elections. The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the states of the Federal state of Switzerland.
United Kingdom
In all United Kingdom elections, postal votes are available on demand - no reason must be given - although a vote rigging scandal involving postal votes marred the 2005 Birmingham local election. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an Election. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um [3]
United States
In the United States, an absentee ballot is a ballot that the voter records and casts other than at a designated polling station on Election Day. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A ballot is a device (originally a small ball—see blackball) used to record choices made by Voters Each voter uses one ballot and ballots are not Typically these ballots are mailed, though some states provide provisions for emailing ballots, faxing ballots, or delivering them in person to a designated location. Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also Electronic mail, often abbreviated to e-mail, email, or originally eMail, is a Store-and-forward method of writing sending receiving Fax (short for facsimile, from Latin fac simile, "make similar" i Typically a voter must request an absentee ballot at least a week before the election occurs. In the U. S. , each State's Secretary of State or Director of Elections is in charge of the election process, including voter registration and absentee ballot requests. About half of all states and U. S. territories allow "no excuse absentee voting," where no reason is required to request an absentee ballot. In most states, voters may request "permanent absentee ballot" status, in which the state will send the voter an absentee ballot every time there is an election. Balloting materials may be sent via the United States Postal Service without prepayment of postage for members of the Armed Forces, members of the U. S. Merchant Marine and U. S. citizens residing outside the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia and their spouses. [4]
Voters (usually) mark their ballots, which may be an optically read ballot marked with a pen or pencil, or may be a punch card ballot. Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is a term encompassing several different types of Voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is a term encompassing several different types of Voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic They then mail the ballot to the state, or may bring the ballot in person to a designated location.
Each state has different laws regulating when absentee ballots must be counted, and who does the counting. Most states count absentee ballots on Election Day which can continue for several days after. The latest deadline is 10 days after Election day (for Washington, D.C., and for overseas absentee ballots sent to Florida. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the )
Most other democratic nations also offer absentee ballots for their voters.
See also: Postal voting
Oregon
Unlike any other state, the ballot in Oregon is mailed to all residents, who are then supposed to fill out the ballot and either mail it back to the elections official or bring it to a drop box. Postal voting describes the method of voting in an election whereby ballot papers are distributed and/or returned by post to electors in contrast to electors voting in person at a Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The term "absentee ballot" in Oregon refers to mailing the ballot to the county elections official, and not merely to receiving the ballot in the mail. As with most states, Oregon residents must register in advance to be able to vote via absentee ballot.
California
California's Secretary of State has reported that in every general election since 1993, between 20% and 30% of ballots cast have been absentee ballots. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar)
Maine
In the state of Maine, any voter may cast an absentee ballot and is not required to give a reason. The State of Maine ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean They must fill out an application, available from the Secretary of State or their town clerk, and turn it in by hand or mail. Secretary of State is a commonly used title for a Government Official. They are then given or mailed a ballot, which must be returned to the town clerk by hand or by mail before the polls close on Election Day. Election Day in the United States is the day set by law for the selection of public officials by popular ballot
Absentee Ballot applications are available at http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/absent.htm. Ballots may be requested up to three months before an election. The ballots are available 30 to 45 days before an election. Maine voters can find their town at http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/clerk.htm.
Maryland
Any registered Maryland voter may vote by absentee ballot. Voters are not required to provide a reason for voting via absentee ballot.
To request an absentee ballot, complete the Absentee Ballot Application. To use this form, enter the required information, print the form, sign it, and send it to your County Board of Elections.
After the deadline, a Late Application for Absentee Ballot must be completed in person at the board of elections.
Under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, military and overseas voters can vote by absentee ballot. If you are a military or overseas voter, learn more about absentee voting and the FVAP's On-line Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.
Ballots are typically mailed approximately three weeks before an election.
After ballot is received, vote the ballot and return it to your County Board of Elections on or before 8 p. m. on election day. A ballot received by the county board of elections will be counted provided:
- It has been received by 8:00 p. m. on election day; or
- It was mailed from a location within the United States before election day, bearing a postmark verifying that fact, and the ballot is received from the postal service by 4 p. m. on the Wednesday following election day; or
- It was mailed from a location outside the United States before election day, bearing a postmark verifying that fact, and the ballot is received from the postal service by 10 a. m. on the second Friday following Election Day or 10 a. m. on the second Wednesday after a Gubernatorial Primary Election.
South Dakota
Any registered South Dakota voter may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are available for primary and general elections six weeks prior to the election. Absentee ballots for city and school elections are available several weeks prior to the election.
To receive a ballot by mail, a voter must file a written application for an absentee ballot with the person in charge of the election. The application must be mailed or hand delivered to the person in charge of the election. The application cannot be submitted by fax. The voter's signature on the application must be notarized or witnessed by an official who can administerwho will deliver the ballot to the voter. An application for a ballot by authorized messenger must be received by the person in charge of the election before 3:00 p. m. the day of the election.
The voter must sign a statement on the absentee ballot envelope prior to returning the ballot. All voted ballots must be returned to the person in charge of the election in time to be delivered to the appropriate polling place prior to the closing of the polls.
Texas
In 1997 the Texas legislature passed a bill allowing residents to cast absentee ballots from space, because of the presence of the NASA Johnson Space Center and the astronauts that live in the Houston metropolitan area. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program The Lyndon B Johnson Space Flight Center ( "JSFC") is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 's center for An astronaut or cosmonaut (космона́вт) is a person trained [5]
Washington State
Originally, absentee ballots in Washington State were mailed prior to election day to those voters who contacted their local county by indicating that they would be unable to vote at their local polling place on election day. In 1993, the state began allowing all voters to vote by mail on a permanent basis. Since that time, voting by mail has gained in popularity, and the term "absentee ballot" has become synonymous with voting by mail. According to the Secretary of State, in 2006, over 88% of all voters cast votes using the vote-by-mail method. Currently all but two of the state's 39 counties have switched entirely to vote-by-mail. Many counties provide drop boxes throughout the county to allow voters to drop off their ballot on or prior to election day, rather than paying postage by sending it through the mail.
References
- ^ Election-Europe SARL, Press Release, February 1, 2007, "E-VOTING: FRENCH POLITICAL PARTY UMP MAKES HISTORY!"
- ^ Parlement & Politiek website (in Dutch)
- ^ Judge upholds vote-rigging claims
- ^ USPS DMM 703.8
- ^ (October 21, 2004) Democracy in Orbit: Chiao to Vote in Space NASA
See also
- Postal vote
- Early voting (USA)
External links
- U.S. Department of Defense Federal Voting Assistance Program (With links to military and civilian absentee voting information for US citizens)
- "Voting is Easy" by Rock the Vote includes absentee information geared toward college students
- Archived list of states' rules on the timing of absentee ballot counting, and who does the counting
- Historical Absentee Ballot Use in California
- U.S. overseas absentee voter registration website (by Democrats Abroad)
- Astronaut Casts Vote from Space
- No Vote By Mail, Problems with Absentee, Postal, and Vote-by-mail systems
- Fraud and abuse
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