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Voting by Mail / Absentee Voting

Monday, September 16, 2024
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 Image of a moving piece of mail. "Voting by Mail & Absentee Voting"

The resources below are designed to help election officials manage mail voting processes and serve voters who use vote-by-mail or absentee voting options. 

Please refer to our main Clearinghouse Resources page for more best practices, tools, and guidance on other topics. 

 

 

 

 

Not finding what you are looking for?

Visit Military and Overseas Voters (UOCAVA) or Voting by Mail/Absentee Voting (Archived) to find additional resources.

Voting by Mail Resources

  • Election Mail Handling Procedures to Protect Against Hazardous Materials

    This joint CISA/FBI/EAC/USPIS resource provides information on identifying & handling suspicious mail, as well as responding to potentially hazardous materials.

  • Memo: Election Mail for the 2024 Presidential Election

    This memo on election mail includes feedback from EAC advisory board members and provides additional insight, support, and resources to election officials.

     

  • Best Practices: Accessibility for Voting by Mail

    This document highlights barriers to accessible voting by mail and provides best practices to help ensure voters with disabilities have equal access to this crucial voting option.

  • Quick Start Guide - Ballot Reconciliation: Mailed Ballots

    This Quick Start Guide covers the mail ballot reconciliation process, tracking ballots from initial application through post-election ballot and envelope storage. 

  • Quick Start Guide - Ballot Drop Boxes

    This Quick Start Guide provides information for election officials using ballot drop boxes, including best practices about drop box placement and security protocols. 

  • Quick Start Guide: Voting by Mail

    This Quick Start Guide provides a brief overview of voting by mail and tips on mail ballot preparation, receipt, and tabulation. 

  • EAC Election Mail Checklist

    This checklist outlines common steps election officials can take to prepare for absentee voting and vote by mail.

  • EAC Election Management Guidelines: Absentee Voting & Vote by Mail

    This chapter of the Election Management Guidelines (EMG) was created to assist state and local election officials in effectively managing absentee voting and vote by mail.

  • 2020 EAC Disability, Accessibility, & Security Forum: Vote by Mail & Electronic Ballot Delivery Systems

    This video showcases a 2020 EAC workshop focused on accessible vote-by-mail ballots and electronic ballot delivery systems, with a special focus on security.

  • Memo: Update to United States Postal Service Change of Address Process

    This memo was provided to election officials to notify them of recent changes to the USPS Change of Address service.

  • EAC Webisode: Make Your Vote by Mail Ballots Count

    This video is part of a 2016 series intended to prepare election officials to handle increased volumes of election mail.

  • Mail Ballot Deadlines, 2012-2022

    This research document tracks the mail ballot deadlines across six election cycles from 2012 to 2022 and shows key highlights for states, territories, and federal districts, that saw changes over time.