A reference list for voter registration literature.

A reference list for voter accessibility literature.

A reference list for vote-by-mail literature.

“Vote by mail” (VBM) or “Mail voting” is a permanent part of the American election ecosystem. The rate of mail voting has tripled since 2000, and mail ballots now constitute a third of ballots returned (half in the pandemic election of 2020). Importantly, a large percentage of ballots mailed to voters are returned in person. This research documents the emergence and growth of mail balloting and details the unique administrative arrangements associated with this method of voting, related research and best practices, and areas where there is still more to learn. (Voting by uniformed and overseas citizens—“UOCAVA” voters—is a special case not focused on in this report.)

The stability of democracy depends in part on public belief in the legitimacy of elections. Attitudes toward elections are based on people’s experiences and what they hear from the media, elites, and experts. Losers are more prone to distrust election results, but the level and persistence of distrust is shaped by elite messages and electoral expectations. Messages about elections can affect public confidence, but it seems easier to damage confidence than to strengthen it. Reporting of election results faces challenges given delays in counting and shifts in vote margins that are often highlighted in news reports.

Despite the rising popularity of mail voting, in-person voting remains the most common mode of voting in the U.S. In-person voting remains an overwhelmingly positive experience, but gaps in performance remain in geographically identifiable places and among voters of particular demographics. The expansion of Election Day vote centers creates a new in-person voting context in which research findings have not been consolidated. The growth in the use of ballot marking devices and the controversy that attends this expansion leads to the need for rigorous research into how this method of voting can be accurate and secure.

This report presents the current state of knowledge about the practice of election administration in the United States in three key dimensions: 1) baseline demographics about the workforce; 2) credentialing and skills development through training and best practices; and 3) recruitment and retention amid stresses in the field.