Dear John,

The data are clear: Voting at home by mail increases voter participation.

In states that mailed ballots to every voter in 2020, voter turnout increased an average of 5.6%, and as much as 8% in regions with historically low vote by mail usage. Expanding voting at home counters many of the worst forms of voter suppression, eliminating the bottlenecking effects of not enough machines, long lines, and on-site intimidation by hostile parties or partisan “election observers.”

In an era when the Voting Rights Act has been gutted of essential protections, and shortages of voting sites are proportionally worse in underrepresented neighborhoods, allowing the ability to vote at home by mail is crucial for improving voter access.

Democracy thrives with the active participation of voters. Sign the petition to tell lawmakers to support vote at home by mail in your state.

Increased voter participation is one of the greatest advantages of Vote at Home by Mail systems. To be able to vote safely and easily from one’s own home, with multiple options for the secure return of one’s ballot, significantly increases the likelihood of voting. In 2020, 46% of voters used vote by mail, resulting in the highest voter turnout in 120 years.

States with vote by mail have reported significant cost savings. Much of these savings come from reducing the need to recruit, hire, and train poll workers, and to operate polling sites. For instance, Colorado reported a cost decrease of 40% in 2020, Oregon reported savings of a third to a half, and Montana reported savings of $2 million per election.

Voters and employers also experience cost savings from using Vote by Mail. Voting lines in 2012 were responsible for losses in productivity and wages of $544 million, falling disproportionately on voters of color. Black voters on average had to wait in line twice as long as white voters, which discourages people from voting in the future.

Ensuring access to voting among disenfranchised voters must remain a high priority for policymakers. To accomplish this goal requires both a robust Vote by Mail system, and the expansion of in-person polling places in underserved communities. This includes increasing access for voters with physical and developmental disabilities, lower income voters, voters with unstable housing, young voters, voters of color, and voters without regular mail delivery.

Meanwhile, important security safeguards are in place to prevent misuse of vote at home ballots. A study by Towson University found that voting by mail “reduces the likelihood of adversarial interference,” partially due to the greater privacy experienced at home. Sending out ballots by mail helps to keep voter rolls updated, when ballots are returned as undeliverable. Ballots and envelopes are designed with features such as personalized barcodes, and signatures are verified by bipartisan teams.

Tell State Lawmakers to expand access to vote at home by mail by adding your name now.

Thank you for your support. Voter suppression is the enemy of democracy, but democracy thrives with the participation of an informed populace.

Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action