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Mail ballot policies create the rules for election administration, and implementation is the roadmap and execution for the election itself. We are committed to helping election administrators across the nation successfully conduct elections with increasing numbers of voters choosing to vote at home.
Clear and focused communication will be essential as election officials accommodate increased mail ballot requests from voters wanting to vote safely at home this November, but less than 5% of election offices have dedicated communications staff. This Election Official Communications Toolkit is for all election officials, but particularly those of you who are looking to add more tools to your box. Whether you have no communications capacity or a large budget, you can find something useful to include in your elections communications plan.
Administering voting by mail requires significant planning and resources. This Election Official Operations Toolkit contains a calculator tool that can help election officials consider what staffing, space, and other resources to plan for in serving a large number of mail voters. This user-friendly Excel spreadsheet takes as its inspiration the polling place resource planning tools built by Aaron Strauss, Mark Pelzarsky, Stephen Graves, and Rong Yuan. Like those tools, it allows election officials to input data and simulate multiple scenarios to improve resource allocation. This toolkit was created by Katy Peters, prepared with funding and support from the Democracy Fund, and administered by NVAHI.
Clear and focused communication will be essential as election officials accommodate increased mail ballot requests from voters wanting to vote safely at home this November, but less than 5% of election offices have dedicated communications staff. This Election Official Communications Toolkit is for all election officials, but particularly those of you who are looking to add more tools to your box. Whether you have no communications capacity or a large budget, you can find something useful to include in your elections communications plan.
Administering voting by mail requires significant planning and resources. This Election Official Operations Toolkit contains a calculator tool that can help election officials consider what staffing, space, and other resources to plan for in serving a large number of mail voters. This user-friendly Excel spreadsheet takes as its inspiration the polling place resource planning tools built by Aaron Strauss, Mark Pelzarsky, Stephen Graves, and Rong Yuan. Like those tools, it allows election officials to input data and simulate multiple scenarios to improve resource allocation. This toolkit was created by Katy Peters, prepared with funding and support from the Democracy Fund, and administered by NVAHI.
At the National Vote at Home Institute, success looks like every state in our union offering access and convenience to all voters. Mail ballot access is a pivotal part of enranchising voters, as it has been shown to increase turnout across demographics, regardless of party affiliation, while maintaining security. No state has a perfect election system, and we work with any and all states and local jurisdictions looking to enact and implement voter-centric policies. In 2019 alone, we visited 28 states to support voting at home policy change and election implementation.
A vote by mail project timeline that can be easily adapted to your timeframe.
Read MoreThere are a variety of steps from the time ballots are brought back to the counting facility by ballot collection teams or delivered by USPS, until the ballots are permanently sealed in storage containers for the retention period.
Read MoreSome states require a voter’s signature on the envelope to match the signature on the voter registration form, which involves training, review, time, and security considerations.
Read MoreA presentation on optimizing mailed ballot processes with the USPS – from Democracy Fund, Tammy Patrick
Read MoreInformation for managing an increase in outbound ballots, including partnerships with your procurement office, designers, envelope and mail ballot print vendors, the US Postal Service (USPS), and mail fulfillment centers.
Read MoreMany election officials are looking for ways to expand the options they can provide to their voters to cast a ballot privately and independently, including electronic ballot delivery and marking.
Read MoreElectionmail.org: to report any problems with mailed ballots
Read MoreA presentation on mail ballot envelope design best practices from the Center for Civic Design
Read MoreA process to help voters apply to vote by mail by sending them an application or by building an online request tool should be put into motion as early as possible before an election.
Read MoreA ballot drop box provides a secure and convenient means for voters to return their mail ballot.
Read MoreMail ballot envelope design best practices from the Center for Civic Design.
Read MoreWant a thorough look at #VoteAtHome systems? Check out this @MITElectionLab article detailing the ... past, present, and future of #VoteAtHome systems. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c3b347362abe43a8a3f29c42a9174a75
