What is absentee voting?

Absentee voting occurs when a voter casts a ballot by mail away from the polling place and, typically, before the day of the election. Absentee voting is used when a voter is unable or unwilling to go to her official polling station.

Some states require voters to qualify for absentee voting. Twenty-one states require proof that the voter is unable to vote on the given day at the given location, while 27 states and the District of Columbia require no excuse of absence. Conditions that may qualify a voter for absentee voting include illness or injury, absence from the country, or being required to work when the polls are open.