How to Vote in the US: A Guide to Mail-In Ballots and Tracking Your Vote

As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, many Americans are opting to vote via mail, a trend that has continued since the pandemic. According to figures from the University of Florida, over 66 million mail ballots have been requested, and more than 30 million have already been returned.

However, recent incidents such as ballot drop boxes being set ablaze in Oregon and Washington, and a stash of sealed ballots falling out of an election worker’s truck in Miami, have raised concerns among voters. To alleviate these worries, many states offer online ballot tracking systems. All states, except Illinois, Missouri, and Wyoming, along with Washington, D.C., provide some form of ballot tracking for mail-in and absentee ballots.

To track your ballot, you need to navigate to your state’s online portal, where you will be asked to provide basic information such as your first and last name, date of birth, and zip code. Depending on the state, you may be able to see when your ballot was mailed and received, or you can sign up for notifications via text, email, or phone call through services like BallotTrax or Enhanced Voting.

These tracking systems use unique intelligent mail barcodes (IMB) identifiers to monitor the ballot’s journey without accessing personal voting information. For example, BallotTrax uses USPS barcodes combined with voter registration data to provide updates on the ballot’s status, such as when it is out for delivery.

If you have not received your ballot or if it was not received and counted, you can contact local election officials for assistance. They can advise on whether to use a replacement mail ballot or to cancel the mail ballot and vote in person on Election Day. Resources such as Vote.org and the national hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) are also available to answer general elections-related questions.

For Americans living overseas, voting can be more complex. You must request an absentee ballot from the last state where you lived and return it by the state’s absentee deadline, either electronically or by mail. Campaigns are using digital outreach and social media to remind expatriates to vote and provide them with the necessary resources.