{"id":351451,"date":"2020-08-07T15:03:30","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T20:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/voting-by-mail-pros-and-cons.html"},"modified":"2024-04-24T10:22:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T15:22:44","slug":"voting-by-mail-pros-and-cons","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/voting-by-mail-pros-and-cons.html","title":{"rendered":"Voting by Mail Pros and Cons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Voting by Mail Pros and Cons<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

The explosive rise in mail-in voting has touched off a largely partisan debate about its efficacy and susceptibility to abuse and fraud. This article examines the pros and cons of voting by mail.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

At least 180 million Americans were eligible to cast their ballots by mail in the 2020 general election. This was more than three-fourths of the total electorate. This was mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that so many registered voters know how convenient it is to vote by mail, election officials expect the number to remain higher than in previous decades.<\/p>\r\n

Voters must understand the vote-by-mail process. You should know your voting rights. Here, we’ll explain how the vote-by-mail system works. We’ll also answer many FAQs about how you can vote using this method.<\/p>\r\n

An Explosive Rise in Mail-In Voting<\/h2>\r\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when it wasn’t safe to visit polling places in person, officials expanded the availability of mail-in voting in many states. As a result, most states and the District of Columbia allowed mail-in voting and eased their rules for mail voting\/absentee voting. Many states have kept these more lenient rules for voting absentee or by mail.<\/p>\r\n

As of 2024, five states conduct all elections via mail<\/a>. These include:<\/p>\r\n