Voting Methods & Options

The traditional method of casting a ballot by appearing at a designated polling place on Election Day or during an early voting period. In-person voters check in with poll workers, verify their registration, and cast their ballot using whatever method their jurisdiction uses, whether a paper ballot, an optical scanner, or an electronic voting machine. In-person voting remains the most common method of casting a ballot in the United States, though the availability of alternatives has expanded significantly in recent years.

A policy that allows eligible citizens to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day, including on Election Day itself, rather than requiring registration by an earlier deadline. Same-day registration removes one of the most common barriers to participation and is available in roughly half of U.S. states. Research consistently shows that states with same-day registration have higher voter turnout than those that require advance registration.

A method of voting in which a registered voter casts their ballot outside of a polling place, typically by mail, when they are unable to vote in person. Historically, absentee voting required a voter to provide a specific excuse for not voting in person, such as illness, disability, or being out of town. Many states have since moved to no-excuse absentee voting, allowing any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. The terms absentee voting and mail-in voting are often used interchangeably, though some states use them to describe distinct processes.

A policy that allows any registered voter to request and cast an absentee or mail-in ballot without having to provide a specific reason for not voting in person. No-excuse absentee voting expands access to voting by removing the requirement to justify the choice to vote by mail. It is now the standard in a majority of U.S. states and is associated with higher overall participation rates, particularly among voters who face logistical barriers to in-person voting.

An accommodation that allows voters who are unable to enter a polling place due to a physical disability or health condition to cast their ballot while remaining in their vehicle. Poll workers bring the necessary materials to the voter outside the building. Curbside voting is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act and is available at polling places across the country, though voters sometimes need to notify poll workers in advance or upon arrival that they need the accommodation.

A ballot made available to a voter who faces an unexpected emergency that prevents them from voting by their normal method. The specific rules and availability of emergency ballots vary by state. In some states, voters who experience a sudden illness or other emergency close to or on Election Day can request a special accommodation to ensure they are still able to participate.

A federal law, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, that guarantees the right of U.S. citizens serving in the military, their eligible dependents, and American citizens living abroad to register and vote in federal elections by absentee ballot. UOCAVA establishes minimum protections and procedures to ensure that distance or overseas deployment does not prevent eligible citizens from participating in federal elections. States are required to send ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days before a federal election.

The set of accommodations, technologies, and policies designed to ensure that voters with disabilities can cast their ballot privately and independently. Federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Help America Vote Act, requires polling places to be physically accessible and mandates that accessible voting systems be available. Accessible voting options include audio ballots, large-print materials, ballot marking devices, and assistance from a person of the voter's choosing.

Help provided to a voter who needs support casting their ballot due to disability, illness, or inability to read or write. Federal law allows voters to bring a person of their choice to assist them in the voting booth, with limited exceptions. Poll workers can also provide assistance. Voting assistance protections are designed to ensure that no eligible voter is effectively disenfranchised because they need help with the physical act of voting.

The practice of voting for every candidate from the same political party on a ballot rather than selecting candidates from different parties for different offices. Some states have historically offered a straight-ticket voting option that allows voters to select all candidates from one party with a single mark. The availability of straight-ticket voting varies by state, and several states have eliminated the option in recent years.

The practice of voting for candidates from different political parties for different offices on the same ballot, for example voting for a Republican for governor and a Democrat for U.S. Senate. Split-ticket voting reflects a voter's decision to evaluate candidates individually rather than along strict party lines. Rates of split-ticket voting have declined significantly in the United States over recent decades as partisan polarization has increased.

A vote cast for a candidate whose name does not appear on the printed ballot, written in by the voter. Write-in votes are permitted in most U.S. elections, though the rules vary: some states require write-in candidates to register in advance in order for their votes to be counted, while others count any name written in. Write-in campaigns are occasionally successful at the local level but are exceedingly rare victories in higher-profile races.

A ballot on which a voter did not make a selection in one or more races. Undervoting can be intentional, when a voter chooses not to weigh in on a particular contest, or unintentional, when a voter misses a race or their mark is not recorded properly. High undervote rates in a particular race can indicate that voters were confused by the ballot layout or simply unaware of down-ballot contests.

A ballot on which a voter has selected more candidates in a race than are permitted, such as choosing two candidates in a contest where only one can be selected. Overvotes typically result in that particular race not being counted, as the voter's intent cannot be determined. Modern optical scanning equipment often flags overvotes and gives voters the opportunity to correct their ballot before it is submitted.

A ballot that has been damaged, incorrectly marked, or otherwise rendered invalid and cannot be counted as cast. A voter who spoils their ballot before submitting it can typically request a new one. Spoiled ballots are distinct from rejected ballots, which are submitted but later determined not to be countable, and from blank ballots, which are submitted with no selections made.

A system in which voting in elections is legally required of eligible citizens, with penalties such as fines for those who fail to participate without a valid excuse. Compulsory voting is used in several countries, most notably Australia, and is associated with significantly higher turnout rates. Supporters argue it produces more representative election outcomes and strengthens democratic legitimacy, while critics argue it infringes on individual freedom and may produce low-quality participation from disengaged voters.

A policy under which eligible citizens are automatically registered to vote when they interact with certain government agencies, such as the department of motor vehicles, unless they opt out. Automatic voter registration shifts the default from requiring citizens to affirmatively register to registering them unless they choose otherwise. It has been adopted by a growing number of states and is associated with more complete and accurate voter rolls and increased participation.

A system that allows eligible citizens to register to vote or update their registration information through a secure government website rather than submitting a paper form. Online voter registration is now available in the majority of U.S. states and has been shown to reduce errors in voter rolls, lower administrative costs, and make the registration process more convenient, particularly for younger voters.

Another name for plurality voting, the electoral system in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins, regardless of whether they receive a majority. The term comes from horse racing, where the first horse to pass the post wins regardless of the margin. First-past-the-post is the dominant voting method used in the United States and the United Kingdom and tends to favor two major parties over time because voters who prefer third-party candidates often feel their vote is wasted if their preferred candidate has little chance of winning.

A phenomenon in plurality voting systems in which a third-party or independent candidate draws votes away from an ideologically similar major-party candidate, potentially causing that candidate to lose to an opponent who is less aligned with those voters' preferences. The spoiler effect is one of the most commonly cited arguments against first-past-the-post voting and one of the primary motivations for proposals like ranked choice voting, which allow voters to express preferences without fear that supporting a less viable candidate will hurt their second choice.

The practice of voting for a candidate other than one's true first preference in order to achieve a more favorable outcome, typically to prevent a strongly disliked candidate from winning. Strategic voting is a rational response to the incentives created by plurality voting systems: if your preferred candidate has little chance of winning, voting for your second choice may have more impact. The prevalence of strategic voting is often cited as evidence that first-past-the-post systems fail to accurately reflect voter preferences, since the recorded votes do not represent what voters actually want most.