“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.

Bridgett A. King is an Associate Professor of American Politics in the Department of Political Science at the University of Kentucky. Previously, she was Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Director of the Master of Public Administration Program at Auburn University. Dr. King teaches courses in state policy and governance, policy analysis, public administration and service, and diversity in public administration. Previously, Dr. King was a Voting Rights Researcher at the Brennan Center for Justice. Dr. King’s research focuses on election administration, public policy, citizen voting experiences, and race and ethnicity. Current overarching themes in her work include the administrative structure of felony disenfranchisement and its effect on participation & representation, citizen confidence in electoral outcomes, and the consequences of administrative discretion on voter experiences & democratic representation. She also works on interdisciplinary projects that apply systems and architectural engineering approaches to the field of election administration to address challenges associated with administrative decision-making and voter experiences.

Efforts to expand the right to vote or access to the polls have focused on making voter registration available to more Americans. But controversy has arisen over whether registration opportunities should be expanded or limited, and how vigorously to purge voter rolls of “deadwood”—people who have died or moved out of state.

All U.S. states except North Dakota require prospective voters to register with their state and/or local elections office before casting a ballot. While the process varies by state, it usually entails filling out a form with one’s name, address, birth date, and, in 31 states, political party affiliation. Eligible voters are then added to a list regularly monitored and maintained by the state’s election administrators.

People with disabilities, senior citizens, Native Americans, rural citizens, and young citizens face a variety of barriers to voting. There has been varying levels of research and established best practices related to these barriers, and substantial gaps remain in several areas.

Paul Gronke is the founder and Director of the Elections & Voting Information Center (EVIC), a non-partisan academic research center co-located at Reed College and Portland State University. Led by Paul, EVIC searches for common sense, non-partisan solutions to identified problems in election administration backed by solid empirical evidence. EVIC's marquee project is the Survey of Local Election Officials (LEO), which the organization has undertaken since 2018.