Equal Futures

Can voters vote by mail or online for legislative elections in OECD countries?

There are a wide range of reasons citizens may be unable or have difficulties going to the polls on election day. This variables includes provisions that allowed for voting by mail or online due to residing abroad, distance to the poll, disability, age, illness or hospitalization, safety concerns, religious beliefs, pregnancy or recent birth, travel, caregiving responsibilities, work responsibilities, education responsibilities, imprisonment, or displacement due to natural disasters. Provisions specific to military personnel or people aboard ships were not included.

Only for a limited set of 1 - 3 reasons means that mail-in or online voting is available only in 1 - 3 of the specific circumstances listed above.

Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it means that legislation provided for at least 4 of the specific circumstances listed above or generally made these voting options available using broad language to anyone who cannot appear on election day. For more details on the specific circumstances, see our policy brief.

Universal access to mail or online voting means that all citizens have the right to vote by mail or online.

Countries

Chile - No

Colombia - No

Costa Rica - No

Czech Republic - No

Denmark - No

Greece - No

Israel - No

Belgium - Only citizens residing abroad

Hungary - Only citizens residing abroad

Italy - Only citizens residing abroad

Latvia - Only citizens residing abroad

Lithuania - Only citizens residing abroad

Mexico - Only citizens residing abroad

The Netherlands - Only citizens residing abroad

Norway - Only citizens residing abroad

Portugal - Only citizens residing abroad

Slovakia - Only citizens residing abroad

Sweden - Only citizens residing abroad

Türkiye - Only citizens residing abroad

Estonia - Only for a limited set of 1 - 3 reasons

Finland - Only for a limited set of 1 - 3 reasons

Republic of Korea - Only for a limited set of 1 - 3 reasons

Poland - Only for a limited set of 1 - 3 reasons

United States of America - Only for a limited set of 1 - 3 reasons

Australia - Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it

Austria - Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it

Ireland - Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it

Japan - Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it

New Zealand - Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it

Slovenia - Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it

Spain - Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it

United Kingdom - Widespread access to mail or online voting options for citizens who might need it

Canada - Universal access to mail or online voting

France - Universal access to mail or online voting

Germany - Universal access to mail or online voting

Iceland - Universal access to mail or online voting

Luxembourg - Universal access to mail or online voting

Switzerland - Universal access to mail or online voting