STATE SCORECARD
At the National Vote at Home Institute, our principal mission is to increase citizens’ access to, trust in, and security of mailed-out ballots.
We have identified and weighed 15 key criteria that reward states for the absence of undue obstacles for voters who wish to apply for, receive, track, return, and have their mailed-out ballots counted in addition to recognizing appropriate security safeguards, such as verifying all voters’ signatures against official election records.
Eight states — Oregon, Washington, California, Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, Nevada, and Vermont — and the District of Columbia currently use this model.
We believe citizen participation and democratic governance are best when states can implement accessible and secure Vote at Home election systems, which should include numerous and accessible in-person options to receive and cast ballots.
Our scorecard encourages enacting vote at home friendly policies, providing a roadmap to help states ultimately adopt an election system where all voters automatically receive their paper ballots in the mail before every election.
How “Vote at Home friendly” is your state? Select any state to learn more. Contact your state or local election officials for questions about your state’s current voting policies.
New Hampshire
9
/65
Voter automatically mailed ballot for every election
0
/10
No excuse to vote from home
1
/6
Voter signs up once to receive mail ballot for all future elections
0
/6
Local governments have discretion to conduct full vote-at-home elections
0
/5
Voter can apply for mail ballot online
0
/2
Voter can receive ballot status notifications.
1
/4
Voter has multiple options to return mail ballot in person
2
/5
Voter signature verified before ballot is counted
0
/4
Voter can correct issues so ballot can be counted
0
/4
Postage-paid return envelopes provided
0
/4
Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted
0
/4
Physical locations for voters to vote and receive assistance
2
/4
Ballots are verified and scanned before Election Day
0
/3
Election officials can mail ballot applications to all voters eligible to vote from home
2
/2
Voters may receive assistance to return their mail ballot
1
/2
Massachusetts
33
/65
Voter automatically mailed ballot for every election
0
/10
No excuse to vote from home
6
/6
Voter signs up once to receive mail ballot for all future elections
0
/6
Local governments have discretion to conduct full vote-at-home elections
0
/5
Voter can apply for mail ballot online
2
/2
Voter can receive ballot status notifications.
1
/4
Voter has multiple options to return mail ballot in person
4
/5
Voter signature verified before ballot is counted
4
/4
Voter can correct issues so ballot can be counted
2
/4
Postage-paid return envelopes provided
4
/4
Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted
0
/4
Physical locations for voters to vote and receive assistance
4
/4
Ballots are verified and scanned before Election Day
3
/3
Election officials can mail ballot applications to all voters eligible to vote from home
2
/2
Voters may receive assistance to return their mail ballot
1
/2
Connecticut
12
/65
Voter automatically mailed ballot for every election
0
/10
No excuse to vote from home
1
/6
Voter signs up once to receive mail ballot for all future elections
1
/6
Local governments have discretion to conduct full vote-at-home elections
0
/5
Voter can apply for mail ballot online
2
/2
Voter can receive ballot status notifications.
1
/4
Voter has multiple options to return mail ballot in person
1
/5
Voter signature verified before ballot is counted
0
/4
Voter can correct issues so ballot can be counted
0
/4
Postage-paid return envelopes provided
0
/4
Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted
0
/4
Physical locations for voters to vote and receive assistance
2
/4
Ballots are verified and scanned before Election Day
0
/3
Election officials can mail ballot applications to all voters eligible to vote from home
2
/2
Voters may receive assistance to return their mail ballot
1
/2
Rhode Island
38
/65
Voter automatically mailed ballot for every election
0
/10
No excuse to vote from home
6
/6
Voter signs up once to receive mail ballot for all future elections
1
/6
Local governments have discretion to conduct full vote-at-home elections
0
/5
Voter can apply for mail ballot online
2
/2
Voter can receive ballot status notifications.
4
/4
Voter has multiple options to return mail ballot in person
4
/5
Voter signature verified before ballot is counted
4
/4
Voter can correct issues so ballot can be counted
4
/4
Postage-paid return envelopes provided
4
/4
Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted
0
/4
Physical locations for voters to vote and receive assistance
2
/4
Ballots are verified and scanned before Election Day
3
/3
Election officials can mail ballot applications to all voters eligible to vote from home
2
/2
Voters may receive assistance to return their mail ballot
2
/2
Maryland
38
/65
Voter automatically mailed ballot for every election
0
/10
No excuse to vote from home
6
/6
Voter signs up once to receive mail ballot for all future elections
6
/6
Local governments have discretion to conduct full vote-at-home elections
3
/5
Voter can apply for mail ballot online
2
/2
Voter can receive ballot status notifications.
1
/4
Voter has multiple options to return mail ballot in person
4
/5
Voter signature verified before ballot is counted
0
/4
Voter can correct issues so ballot can be counted
4
/4
Postage-paid return envelopes provided
4
/4
Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted
4
/4
Physical locations for voters to vote and receive assistance
4
/4
Ballots are verified and scanned before Election Day
3
/3
Election officials can mail ballot applications to all voters eligible to vote from home
2
/2
Voters may receive assistance to return their mail ballot
2
/2
Vermont
49
/65
Voter automatically mailed ballot for every election
8
/10
No excuse to vote from home
6
/6
Voter signs up once to receive mail ballot for all future elections
6
/6
Local governments have discretion to conduct full vote-at-home elections
5
/5
Voter can apply for mail ballot online
2
/2
Voter can receive ballot status notifications.
1
/4
Voter has multiple options to return mail ballot in person
4
/5
Voter signature verified before ballot is counted
0
/4
Voter can correct issues so ballot can be counted
2
/4
Postage-paid return envelopes provided
4
/4
Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted
0
/4
Physical locations for voters to vote and receive assistance
4
/4
Ballots are verified and scanned before Election Day
3
/3
Election officials can mail ballot applications to all voters eligible to vote from home
2
/2
Voters may receive assistance to return their mail ballot
2
/2