Resources

Use our resource library to explore the latest research in the field of election science.

7 Resources

Charles Stewart IIIMIT Election Data + Science Lab2025
Voting by Mail Reports

This report details how American voters experienced the 2024 general election. It is based on a survey of 10,200 registered voters, including 200 from each state plus D.C. Key findings from mail voting include: mail voting decreased to 29% from 43% in 2020; 37% of Democrats used mail voting compared to 24% for Republicans; few voters reported issue with requesting or completing a mail ballot; 3% of voters who returned their ballot via mail encountered disruptions.

Sutherland Institute2022
Voting by Mail Reports

This report seeks to inform discourse surrounding the implementation and impacts of vote by mail (VBM) policies by evaluating modern use-cases. Authors examine the history of VBM policies, the landscape of current research on VBM and analyze the use of VBM in Utah as a caste study. Report findings indicate that, when implemented well, VBM is a secure and successful means of casting a ballot

Office of the Washington State Auditor2022
Voting by Mail Reports

This report, issued by the Office of the State Auditor, summarizes a statistical analysis of ballots submitted in the Washington 2020 general elections, with an emphasis on understanding common reasons and predictors of ballot rejection. Its findings point to the county where a ballot was cast as being the most significant variable related to ballot rejection. The report concludes with recommendations for the state aimed at reducing ballot rejections.

United States Postal Service2021
Voting by Mail Reports

This United States Postal Service (USPS) report outlines the scope of election mail handled by USPS and identifies key service challenges including poorly designed ballot envelopes, tight state deadlines that don't align with postal delivery windows, and inconsistent postmarking requirements. The report identifies the "extraordinary measures" taken by USPS during election periods to effectively process and deliver election mail.

The Council of State Governments, Overseas Voting Initiative2020
Voting by Mail Reports

Since the passage of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment of 2009, many technology solutions have been developed to help UOCAVA voters request, receive and return their ballots. This report examines the preliminary and current landscape of these technology solutions and identifies barriers to ensuring their sustainability. The report also identifies areas of further research related to emerging UOCAVA balloting solutions.

Virginia Department of Elections2015
Voting by Mail Reports

In 2014, the Virginia General Assembly established a working group to provide instructions, procedures, services, a security assessment, and security measures for the secure return by electronic means of voted absentee military- overseas ballots from uniformed-service voters outside of the United States. This report details the finding and work of the working group's first convening in 2015.

John C. FortierAmerican Enterprise Institute2006
Voting by Mail In-Person Voting Reports

An early assessment of the growing trend of states expanding the use of absentee and early in-person voting in elections.