Should all Americans vote by mail?

In a democracy, every eligible voter has the right to cast a ballot and have it counted. While each state determines its own voting laws in the United States, many people have begun pushing for all states to accept ballots by mail, especially as the Covid-19 pandemic made going to the polls in person more difficult. However, after the 2020 election's record turnout, the conversation has turned to vote-by-mail for every election. Opponents say mail-in voting can cause all kinds of problems, including uncounted ballots and voter fraud. Is universal vote-by-mail pushing the envelope?

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For Navajo Nation In Arizona, The Election Process Is Complicated And Problematic

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Additional resources to think about

7 Lessons About Elections That Americans Should Learn From Other Countries
Read how other democracies around the world vote, from Sweden's high voter turnout to an electoral national holiday in India.

As More Americans Prepare To Vote By Mail, Postal Service Faces Big Challenges
With the potential increase in mail-in voting, there is some question about whether the United States Postal Service will be overwhelmed. Recent financial problems and criticism from the president have added to challenges the USPS is facing.

Voting By Mail Would Reduce Coronovirus Transmission But It Has Other Risks
Switching too quickly to a mail-in system could be risky. Not only have most cases of voter fraud occurred with absentee ballots, but if states try to switch over too quickly, voters might face a higher risk of their votes not counting.

Two-Thirds of Americans Expect Presidential Election Will Be Disrupted By Covid-19
See Pew Research's polling data showing the opinions of different groups of Americans on voting by mail.

All-Mail Elections
The National Council of State Legislatures provides a summary of advantages and disadvantages of voting by mail and outlines different statutes by state.

How To Vote By Mail
NPR's Life Kit takes us through the process of voting by mail.

The Vote-by-Mail Debate, Explained
The Wall Street Journal dives into the history of vote-by-mail in the United States.

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What kind of “text” is it?
How similar or different is it to others of the same genre?
What are the various elements (building blocks) that make up the whole?

What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?

What do you notice (about the way the message is constructed)?
What’s the emotional appeal?
What makes it seem “real?”
What's the emotional appeal? Persuasive devices used?

How might different people understand this message differently from me?

How many other interpretations could there be?
How could we hear about them?
How can you explain the different responses?

What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?

What type of person is the reader/watcher/listener invited to identify with?
What ideas or perspectives are left out?
How would you find what’s missing?
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Why is this message being sent?

What's being sold in this message? What's being told?
Who is served by or benefits from the message
– the public?
– private interests?
– individuals?
– institutions?

5 Key Questions of Media Literacy used with permission from the Center for Media Literacy.
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