Dear Colleagues,
Every US state (including the soon to be 51st state) is expecting a significant increase in absentee voting for the 2020 general election. Over 70 percent of 2020 primary election voters submitted an absentee or special ballot, compared to just 8 percent in the 2016 general election. This combined with unfounded concerns about absentee voting security, adds to the importance of understanding this process.
To that end, the Council’s Budget Office thought it would be interesting to dig into how D.C. and the 50 states process and tabulate absentee ballots and certify elections. Linked and attached to this message are two documents: a research brief entitled, Absentee Ballot Requirements in DC and the 50 States and a chart showing a 50 State Survey of Dates for Absentee Ballot Processing and Tabulation, Release of Elections Results and Certification Dates.
Some takeaways from the brief include:
D.C. and 41 states allow all jurisdictions to process absentee ballots prior to Election Day.
D.C. and 13 states allow all jurisdictions to begin tabulating absentee ballots prior to Election Day.
While 46 states have a statutorily set election certification date, D.C. and four states do not.
D.C. begins processing absentee ballots as soon as they arrive.
D.C. allows absentee ballots to be tabulated 15 days before Election Day. However, vote totals for candidates are not tabulated until after the close of polls on Election Day.
I know that I plan to super nerd out on November 3rd (and 4th and 5th…) with a copy of this research brief and 50-state survey by my side, so that I can better follow and understand the in-person and absentee vote totals rolling in from the states.
Special thanks to Katelin Punelli and Susanna Groves for pulling this together. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns,
Jen Budoff, Budget Director