The Use of the Mail for Voting: Can It Produce Greater Participation for Lower Cost?

• Published in: State & local government review 1985-04, Vol.17 (2), p.225-231
• Main Author: Sparrow, Glen W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ballots; Cost estimates; Local elections; Political campaigns; Political participation; Postal service; Sample ballots; Voter registration; Voter turnout; Voting; Voting behavior; Voting precincts; Voting rights
• ISSN: 0160-323X; 1943-3409

As local election officials attempt to increase voter participation and at the same time reduce costs they may want to investigate the San Diego mail ballot experiment. This paper examines the planning and implementation of that experiment and describes the process that local election officials followed to conduct a successful and innovative election using the mail to send and receive back ballots. In addition, the paper evaluates the election turnout and cost in terms of additional variables that may have had an impact on the election, such as the lack of candidates, the salience of the issue, the fact the issue was placed on the ballot by referendum petition, the length of the voting period, and the interest not only in the issue but in the uniqueness of the election process itself, all of which worked to increase participation and lower costs. Finally issues of voting privacy and government responsibility to increase voter participation are raised. It is concluded that the mail ballot election is a concept that can in a limited sense and under certain circumstances provide the twin goals of higher turnout and lower cost. However, the San Diego example indicates the mail ballot, at this point in time, has a limited use.