California’s
San Mateo County conducted its 2015 election as an all-mail ballot election under
a pilot program that previously authorized a more rural county, Yolo County, to
do the same. The program authorizes San Mateo and Yolo counties to conduct
three elections, other than the 2016 presidential election, by mail. They must report back to the state on costs, voter
diversity, and voter turnout. According to the San
Jose Mercury News and The
Daily Journal, voter turnout
in San Mateo increased to about 29% in 2015 from about 25% in 2013, the last
comparable election.
Under
all-mail ballot elections, also called “vote-by-mail” elections, every
registered voter automatically receives a ballot in the mail. The voter marks
the ballot, puts it in a secrecy envelope and then a separate mailing envelope,
signs an affidavit on the mailing envelope’s exterior, and returns the ballot via
mail or in person to a designated location.
Proponents
of vote-by-mail elections say that they increase efficiency, lower costs
associated with hiring poll workers, and increase voter turnout. Opponents, on the other hand, say that they
increase the chances for voter fraud, have a minimal impact on voter turnout, and
increase costs associated with printing and mailing ballots.
According
to the National
Conference of State Legislature, three states (Colorado, Oregon, and
Washington) conduct their elections entirely by mail. At least 19 others authorize vote-by-mail
elections for certain jurisdictions or types of elections (e.g., county
elections and referenda).
