VOTE BY MAIL FOR SECURE ELECTIONS IN 2020 — AND BEYOND
STATE-BY-STATE RESOURCES FOR ELECTIONS OFFICIALS
ABOUT THIS RESOURCE: STATE GUIDELINES FOR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS
These state-by-state guides are designed to give local election officials the information they need to identify and take the most important steps to get ready for November. Each set of state-specific resources includes best practices and established models from around the country, including practical nuts and bolts advice for clerks, materials from election administrators with experience conducting all mail elections, and information about vendors and costs.
| LINK TO STATE VOTE BY MAIL RESOURCES | ELECTION READINESS GRADE |
|---|---|
| ALABAMA | F |
| ALASKA | C- |
| ARIZONA | B |
| ARKANSAS | F |
| CALIFORNIA | A- |
| COLORADO | A |
| CONNECTICUT | D- |
| WASHINGTON, DC | B+ |
| DELAWARE | D |
| FLORIDA | B- |
| GEORGIA | B |
| HAWAII | B- |
| IDAHO | C- |
| ILLINOIS | B |
| INDIANA | F |
| IOWA | B |
| KANSAS | D |
| KENTUCKY | F |
| LOUISIANA | F |
| MAINE | D- |
| MARYLAND | B |
| MASSACHUSETTS | D- |
| MICHIGAN | B |
| MINNESOTA | C- |
| MISSISSIPPI | F |
| MISSOURI | F |
| MONTANA | B- |
| NEBRASKA | B- |
| NEVADA | A- |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | F |
| NEW JERSEY | C- |
| NEW MEXICO | B |
| NEW YORK | F |
| NORTH CAROLINA | F |
| NORTH DAKOTA | C- |
| OHIO | C+ |
| OKLAHOMA | F |
| OREGON | A |
| PENNSYLVANIA | C- |
| RHODE ISLAND | C- |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | F |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | D+ |
| TENNESSEE | F |
| TEXAS | F |
| UTAH | A |
| VERMONT | D |
| VIRGINIA | D |
| WASHINGTON STATE | A |
| WEST VIRGINIA | C- |
| WISCONSIN | C |
| WYOMING | F |
ABOUT THIS RESOURCE: STATE GUIDELINES FOR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS
These state-by-state guides are designed to give local election officials the information they need to identify and take the most important steps to get ready for November. Each set of state-specific resources includes best practices and established models from around the country, including practical nuts and bolts advice for clerks, materials from election administrators with experience conducting all mail elections, and information about vendors and costs.
MORE INFORMATION
- IS YOUR STATE READY FOR A COVID-19 ELECTION?
- FAQ: PANDEMIC-PROOF ELECTIONS WITH VOTE BY MAIL
- HOW WE GRADED EACH STATE
ABOUT US
Sightline Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank with a 25 year history. We are based in the Pacific Northwest, where many states already conduct elections completely by mail. Our experience working on local and state-based democracy reforms, as well as our relationships with experienced clerks, spurred us to put together this information to help give other clerks a running start at conducting safe elections with more mailed-out ballots on a short timeline.
Contact us
We welcome your questions and feedback. Email Kristin Eberhard, director of Sightline’s Democracy research program.
MORE INFORMATION
- IS YOUR STATE READY FOR A COVID-19 ELECTION?
- FAQ: PANDEMIC-PROOF ELECTIONS WITH VOTE BY MAIL
- HOW WE GRADED EACH STATE
ABOUT US
Sightline Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank with a 25 year history. We are based in the Pacific Northwest, where many states already conduct elections completely by mail. Our experience working on local and state-based democracy reforms, as well as our relationships with experienced clerks, spurred us to put together this information to help give other clerks a running start at conducting safe elections with more mailed-out ballots on a short timeline.
Contact us
We welcome your questions and feedback. Email Kristin Eberhard, director of Sightline’s Democracy research program.
Photos: TANNEN MAURY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock. Wisconsin primary election proceeds despite Coronavirus Covid-19 in April, 2020. A shortage of poll workers and social distancing precautions left Milwaukee with only a few polls open resulting in long lines. King County, Washington, Vote By Mail ballot collection box. Amid coronavirus threat, American voters prefer safe Vote By Mail elections in 2020.
