Since you send in an absentee voting , it seems likemail - in ballotis just a commodious alternative for people who always draw a blank the wordabsentee . And though the full term are often used interchangeably , there is technically a difference .
Up until theCivil War , American voters were more often than not required to vote at their local polling stations in person . But when states recognise this would foreclose one C of thousands of soldiers from vote in the 1864 presidential election , they startedpassing lawsto let them send in their ballot rather . AsThe Washington Postexplains , res publica legislative assembly have since broadened these practice of law to admit other citizen who ca n’t make it to the poll onElection Day : people who are traveling , multitude who have disabilities , people attending college away from home , etc . Because these voters are all physically absent from the polls for one intellect or another , their ballots are have intercourse asabsentee ballots .
Some State require you to meet certain criteria in orderliness to measure up for an absentee vote , while others do n’t ask you to give a reason at all ( which is known as “ no - excuse absentee voting ” ) . Since this year ’s general election is happen during apandemic , many states have temporarily adopted a no - excuse insurance policy to encourage everyone to vote from home . But even if you do n’t need to provide an apology , you do commonly need to request an absentee voting .
harmonize toDictionary.com , mail - in ballotis a more general term that can bear on to any balloting you send in . It ’s often used when talking about all - mailvoting , when states send a ballot to every registered voter — no asking necessary . Oregon and a few other state really conduct all elections like this , and several other states have settle to do it for the upcoming presidential election . But even though you do n’t have to direct in an practical program request a postal service - in voting in these situations , you do still have to be registered to vote .
Because balloting processes are mostly left up to the state , there ’s quite a bit of mutant when it come to what officials call ballots that you do n’t cast in person . You could see the termmail - in vote — orvote - by - ring armour voting , oradvanced balloting , or something similar — on an program for an absentee ballot , and you could hearabsentee ballotused in a conversation about all - mail service voting .
No matter what you call it , you should definitely mail one in for this election — here ’s how to do that inyour Department of State .
