Absentee and Mail Voting Policies
Recommended citation: Movement Advancement Project. “Availability of No-Excuse Absentee Voting.” https://mapresearch.org/democracy-map/absentee-and-mail-voting-policies/. Accessed July 18, 2026
A small number of states conduct vote by mail elections, where every eligible voter is mailed a ballot without having to request one. Ballots are returned through the mail or to secure ballot drop boxes or election offices. Voters who wish to do so may still cast their ballot in-person at a polling place. All-mail elections allow voters more options to cast their ballot and may increase turnout as well as lower election administration costs.
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. “Vote By Mail States.” https://mapresearch.org/democracy-maps/mail_voting_states. Accessed July 18, 2026.
Breakdown by Population
*Note: These percentages reflect the voting-eligible population, as reported by the United States Election Project.
Every state provides options for at least some voters to cast their ballots without having to appear in-person at a polling place. The majority of states permit absentee voting, which allows voters to cast their ballot without going to a traditional polling place, in most cases by voting through the mail. States differ in the requirements to qualify to vote absentee, with some states allowing any voter to do so and others requiring an excuse, such as a medical emergency. States that conduct all-mail elections, where every eligible voter is mailed a ballot, are categorized here as no-excuse absentee states.
Recommended citation: Movement Advancement Project. “Availability of No-Excuse Absentee Voting.” https://mapresearch.org/democracy-map/absentee-and-mail-voting-policies/. Accessed July 18, 2026.
Breakdown by Population
*Note: These percentages reflect the voting-eligible population, as reported by the United States Election Project.
