Absentee / Vote-by-Mail
In our 'Absentee/Vote-by-Mail' category of stories, we explore the experiences of voters who've encountered unique challenges when voting by absentee ballot or with vote-by-mail methods.
US.VOTE and our parent organization, U.S. Vote Foundation, are strong proponents of absentee voting and we provide services to voters seeking to partake in the process. Nevertheless, we are well aware that every voting process can bring new challenges to voters.
In these personal interviews, you'll get a sense of the issues that some voters have faced when navigating the absentee voting process, and how these issues were overcome. These voter stories can help alleviate concerns or address questions you may have had about voting by absentee ballot or by mail.
We invite you to explore the stories of voters who have exercised their fundamental right to vote through these safe, convenient methods.
Is it challenging to get to the polls due to your working hours? If you'll be busy working on Election Day and may need an absentee ballot, you'll relate to Julia's voter story.
As a free lance make-up artist who also holds another position in the cosmetic industry, Julia often cannot predict or schedule her working hours very far in advance. Her employment is subject to the wishes of her clients or the planning of her manager. While she enjoys the vibe of voting in person, Julia also does not want to miss out a voting whether due to opportunity or obligation. Take a look at the factors Julia is considering to see if voting by absentee ballot could be a preferred method for you.
Have you developed health concerns, mobility issues, or vision difficulties as you age? You may want to weigh your voting options as retirees Dave and Jane have.
Similar to Julia, Dave and Jane have enjoyed going to their polling location on Election Day but are planning strategically for the next decade. They are finding out if their state allows seniors to vote by mail or whether their state may require a qualified health condition to use an absentee ballot. Many Americans were introduced to the convenience of widespread voting accommodations such as drop boxes or absentee ballots being mailed to voters without applications during the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020 - and would like to know if these methods continue to be available. Dave and Jane's voting story covers voting over the lifespan and how our civic identities have changed.
Do you second guess voting by absentee ballot or by mail? Beth has been there.
It can be cathartic and reassuring to feed your ballot directly into a voting machine in person on Election Day. You can watch your vote being processed with your own eyes. If you send in your ballot through the mail or by drop box, it sometimes feels like a leap of faith even when you intellectually and experientially know your vote will be counted. But just to be clear - absentee voting is safe, easy, quick and secure - and you can even track your ballot through U.S. Vote Foundation if you like the satisfaction of having "eyes" on the process.
Beth was out-of-state at college and had been planning to vote with an absentee ballot through the mail. She knew absentee ballots are a reliable and excellent option for her, but she just couldn't be sure her envelope would arrive in time as Election Day inched closer. If you have a concern about missing a deadline for absentee voting after requesting a ballot, read about Beth's voting odyssey. And discover whether your state would permit you to vote in person if you have applied to vote by absentee or mail-in ballot.
Educate yourself about mail-in ballots and absentee ballots through these real life experiences to prepare yourself for this flexible option in our increasingly mobile, remote society.
If you have a question about mail-in or absentee voting that we haven't addressed, or would like to share your own voting story with this method of balloting, please reach out to the YES Campaign!
Can I Vote by Absentee Ballot if I'm Over 65?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
It is not uncommon for states to allow voters over the age of sixty-five to vote by absentee ballot. Dave and Jane Applebaum discuss voting over the course of their lives, and why they would consider voting by mail.
Seniors Considering Voting by Absentee Ballot
Senior citizens most certainly contribute to our democratic processes with the wisdom gained through life experience. As the years advance, though, mobility issues and health concerns may hinder their ability to participate in elections in person.
Can you vote by mail-in or absentee ballot if you are over age sixty-five? Yes, you may be eligible depending on your state’s rules.
Meet Jane and Dave Applebaum - Retirees who value voting
At the end of her career, Jane Applebaum worked for the International Paper Company as a researcher in their technical library. She has volunteered in many elections, and served for four years on her county board of the League of Women Voters.
Dave Applebaum worked over thirty years in newspaper publishing, serving as Director of Systems and Technology in his last position. Since retiring, Dave has been volunteering with various organizations in areas such as literacy, food insecurity, social services, and voting information.
In Jane and Dave Applebaum’s conversation with U.S. Vote Foundation (US Vote), they explain their voting history and why they might vote by absentee ballot.
US.VOTE
Jane and Dave, do you both remember the first time you ever voted?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane - Even as a young person, I was interested in politics and the voting process. I got that from my parents who were born elsewhere and always talked about how important it was to fulfill your duty as a citizen to be informed and to vote. So I remember how excited I felt when I was able to vote for the first time in the 1964 presidential election.
Dave – My parents and siblings were always discussing (arguing) politics at home and none of them would skip a vote, so it was just natural for me to start when I became eligible in the 1960 election. I do remember that day very well.
US.VOTE
Would you say you have voted in most of the elections that came after that first time you voted?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane - Yes, I doubt I ever missed one.
Dave – Yes to most. But I can remember getting home too late from work to get to the polling place, and also missing when I was traveling. I never knew or thought about voting absentee.
US.VOTE
What method of voting do you usually use?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane - Always in person.
Dave – In person.
US.VOTE
Under what circumstances might you consider voting-by-mail or by absentee ballot?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane – Of course I would vote by mail if I was physically unable to do so in person. During Covid it was great that we could utilize the mail system. But I will vote in person as long as I can because I value the experience of voting so much.
Dave – I don’t feel committed to in-person voting as much as Jane does. In our district the process goes pretty fast, but if something changes and the lines get long I would definitely switch to absentee. Actually, I might switch anyway just for convenience.
US.VOTE
While most states permit voters to use mail-in or absentee ballots without an excuse, each state has its own rules, and a small number of states still require a reason (excuse) to vote by absentee ballot.
If you were to vote with this method, would you be inclined to track your ballot?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane - Definitely. I don’t know the workings of the absentee process so I don’t think I would have the same confidence that my vote counted as when I see the ballot going into the machine.
Dave – No. I feel pretty confident that the process works.
US.VOTE
It is interesting to see how voting has evolved over time, such as having the ability to download absentee ballot request forms and track your ballot online. In what ways has your experience with elections changed over decades of voting?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane - I haven’t used any tracking or remote systems, but I feel the difference is in getting information. We used to get a sample ballot in the mail and that was pretty much it, but now there’s so much more information available, particularly online with sites such as U.S. Vote Foundation, as well as others, including state and county sites.
Dave – Yes, there is more information. But there is also much more disinformation, so it’s more important than ever to get election information from a reputable source.
US.VOTE
How do you stay informed about elections and candidates? Have your sources changed over the years?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane - I use our local papers. I watch PBS for U.S. news, and BBC for international news, doing that for many years.
Dave – My sources have been the same for a long time – New York Times in print and Washington Post online.
US.VOTE
Have you noticed any difference in civil discourse over time, or seen changes in our ability to have polite conversations about elections?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane - Sadly, an emphatic yes. We now have to pretty much avoid political discussions with anyone who might differ from our views because of how heated they become, like the Viet Nam days when there was no middle ground in any discussion.
Dave – Polite conversations about elections???
US.VOTE
Have you noticed any changes in your friends’ voting habits as the years progress? Does the likelihood that they’ll vote tend to increase or decrease over time?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane – Between travel, second homes and physical issues, I think there are a lot of elections missed. Hopefully some use mail but I don’t know.
Dave – I think probably most of the people we know keep the same voting habits, except for the issues that Jane mentioned.
US.VOTE
Do you have any advice for others about how to maintain lifelong voting?
Jane and Dave Applebaum
Jane - I’ve always tried to teach my kids and grandkids that voting is a privilege and a duty. I used to take my children and grandchildren along when I voted to try to ingrain the habit. I would encourage everyone to do that.
Dave – It would be great if websites such as this could be used in schools so that children learn about all aspects of voting. Then by voting age they would be comfortable with the process and see how easy it is to get answers, and so be more likely to be lifetime voters.
Retirees like Jane and Dave Applebaum benefit enormously from US Vote’s Voter Accounts. These accounts serve as a personalized democracy dashboard. You can safely store all your voter information there for when you need to easily and quickly generate new forms for voting - especially if you decide to vote by mail or with an absentee ballot. The accounts are easy to make, are completely private, and take just minutes to get set up. You can even sign up for reminders so that you never miss and election date or deadline.
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