"It's in the Mail": Present Use and Future Prospects of Mail Elections

The mail ballot election (MBE) is one of the more innovative solutions put forth to address the problem of declining voter turnout. In this article, the authors summarize the mail election procedures authorized in 12 states. In addition, they present results of a survey of state election officials to discuss the effectiveness, perceived short-comings, and prospects for greater usage of mail ballots. Despite increased turnout associated with the mail ballot, concern over the possibility of fraud is the major obstacle to greater usage, notwithstanding the fact that no fraudulent practices have been associated with mail ballot elections to date.