The Rise of Absentee and Early Voting

Dataset by the Election Assistance Commission.

This upcoming presidential election may be one of the closest in American history. Presidential candidates Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have both encouraged Americans to cast their vote early. The encouragement seen on both sides of the spectrum have increased early voting and absentee ballots compared to previous elections. 

“We currently have a little over 7,000 early voters that have voted through the city of Duluth,” said Duluth’s Assistant City Clerk, Alyssa Denham. “That is more than 2016, but of course, significantly less than 2020 due to COVID.” 

Absentee ballots are mail-in ballots for voters who can’t vote in person or want to vote early. The pandemic increased their popularity, and trends show this might be the new preferred way to vote.

Historically, absentee voting dates back to the American Revolution and had many restrictions. It wasn’t until 1980 that California became the first state to allow voters to request an absentee ballot without an excuse. 

With more leniency in absentee ballots, early voting nearly doubled from 2004 to 2016. Now, 47 states offer early voting and mail-in ballots to all registered voters, including those in Minnesota. 

“We have a really great state when it comes to voting laws,” said President of Student Government Association at UMD, Remi Foust. “We basically have the most opportunities out of a lot of states, which is awesome.”

Out of the 3.6 million registered voters in Minnesota, more than 500,000 have already voted in this election. As of Oct. 30, more than 55 million Americans have voted nationwide. Compared to in 2020, about 100.4 million voted early - almost doubling the 58 million that voted early or by mail in 2016.

As absentee and early voting continue to rise in popularity, so do questions as to why. 

“They also make sense, especially with early voting,” said Foust. “If you are anxious and you just want to get your voting out of the way and you don't want to think about it on Election Day, that's helpful too. It's pretty nice to have those options.” 

Early in-person voting is available until the Monday before Election Day at Duluth City Hall. On Election Day, students living on campus can vote in the Kirby Ballroom with their student ID. The student government’s Bulldog Lyft program offers discounted Lyft rides to help students get to their polling place.