In the United States, an absentee ballot is a ballot that the voter receives and (usually) sends through the mail, rather than travelling to a polling place and marking the ballot at a voting booth. (In this context the term "absentee" has no negative connotation.)

Typically a voter must request an absentee ballot by mail at least a week before the election occurs. In most states, voters may request "permanent absentee ballot" status, in which the state will send the voter an absentee ballot every time there is an election.

The voter reads the voter's guide pamphlet and marks his ballot, which may be an optically read ballot marked with a pen or pencil, or may be a punch card ballot. He then mails the ballot to the state, or may bring the ballot in person to a polling place.

Each state has different laws regulating when absentee ballots must be counted, and who does the counting. Most states count absentee ballots on Election Day, though some allow counting to continue for several days after. The last deadline is 10 days after Election day (for Washington, D.C., and for overseas absentee ballots sent to Florida.)

See also: Postal voting

Oregon

Unlike any other state, the ballot in Oregon is mailed to all residents, who are then supposed to fill out the ballot and bring it to a drop box. The term "absentee ballot" in Oregon refers to mailing the ballot to the county elections official, and not merely to receiving the ballot in the mail. As with most states, Oregon residents must register in advance to be able to vote via absentee ballot.

California

California's Secretary of State has reported that in every general election since 1993, between 20% and 30% of ballots cast have been absentee ballots.

External Links

• List of states' rules on the timing of absentee ballot counting, and who does the counting (http://www.electionline.org/site/docs/html/counting_absentee_ballots.htm)
• Historical Absentee Ballot Use in California (http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/hist_absentee.htm)