The upcoming USA presidential election in November 2020 has thrust postal voting into the limelight. Many states are working towards making this voting option more accessible in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This article will delve into the election procedure in the USA, the prevalence of postal voting and possible issues that may arise, as well as the state of postal voting in India.
Election Process in the USA
In contrast to countries like India, where an independent Election Commission runs elections, in the USA, all federal, state, and local elections are directly managed by individual state governments. As such, the USA Constitution and laws grant states wide freedom in how they administer elections, leading to varying regulations across the country.
Postal Voting in the USA: The Current Scenario
All states in the USA allow postal voting, but the rules differ from state to state. Some states provision absentee ballots, meaning that voters can vote by mail if they can justify why they won’t be able to physically attend on election day. However, other states have a “no-excuse absentee voting” policy, where voters can get an absentee ballot without needing to provide a reason for their absence. There are also states that offer “vote-by-mail” services, automatically sending a ballot to every registered voter. In the 2016 election, roughly 24% of votes were cast via postal ballots. With the circumstances surrounding the 2020 election, this number is predicted to see a significant rise.
Issues Surrounding Postal Voting
The expansion of postal voting has sparked controversy. President Donald Trump and his backers argue that increasing postal voting could lead to fraudulent practices. However, many Democrats and some Republicans disagree, accusing Trump of deliberately disrupting the postal voting process.
Postal Voting in India
In India, certain groups of voters are permitted to vote through postal ballots. These voters receive their ballot papers electronically and return them via post. The eligible voters include service voters such as members of the armed forces, the armed police force of a state, and government servants posted abroad; voters on election duty; voters above 80 years of age or Persons with Disabilities (PwD); and voters held under preventive detention. Exceptions to these categories are outlined in Section 60 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Way Forward
To ensure fair and efficient postal voting in the USA, it could be beneficial to enforce stricter identity checks for voters. However, this must be done with care to avoid disenfranchising minority populations and less-educated individuals, which could subsequently suppress voting. By striking a balance between maintaining electoral integrity and ensuring voter accessibility, postal voting can play an indispensable role in democratic processes.