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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?

investigate

The truth about vote-by-mail and fraud

Lessons To Learn From Washington's Decades-Long Experience Of Mail-In Voting

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

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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Should all Americans vote by mail?

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