Voting beyond borders: How postal ballots function worldwide
At least 32 countries now allow citizens to cast ballots by post; some for all, others for only a select few. Their experiences show how remote voting has become a part of mainstream democracy
The interim government's plan to allow expatriates voting through a newly developed app has received mixed reaction.
Supporters welcomed the move as long overdue recognition of the diaspora's contribution to our economy. Some, however, voiced concern about security, reliability, and whether the country's institutions are prepared for such a technological leap.
The discussion has immediately drawn comparisons with other countries that already allow citizens to cast votes without visiting polling booths.
The idea of voting outside polling stations is not new. Across the world, mail-in ballots, sometimes called postal votes, are firmly embedded in electoral practice.
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What is a mail-in ballot?
Simply put, a mail-in ballot is a ballot paper sent to a voter's home, filled out privately, and then returned by post or deposited at a secure drop-off point. The method was originally designed for people unable to visit polling centres: soldiers, citizens living abroad, the sick, or those in remote areas.
Today, however, it is part of mainstream electoral practice in several democracies.
According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), at least 32 countries or territories authorise some form of mail-in voting.
Of these, 12 allow all voters to vote by mail without providing a reason, while 20 restrict it to specific categories such as overseas citizens, hospital patients, or those living in inaccessible regions.
Countries with no-excuse postal voting
Canada is one of the earliest adopters of widespread postal voting. While mail-in options have been available in some form since the late 20th century, it was in 1993 that Canada extended the right to all voters.
"Voting by mail has long been a vital component of the democratic process in Canada," said Cary Wu, Associate Professor at York University, in an interview with CNN. Although little used in general elections before COVID-19, it has since become a popular option.
Germany has permitted postal ballots since 1957. Originally intended for those unable to vote in person, the rules were relaxed in 2008, allowing all citizens to opt for postal ballots. Greece, too, offers nationwide access, though its system has undergone reforms in recent years to accommodate diaspora voters.
Mail-in ballots were originally designed for people unable to visit polling centres. Today, however, it is part of mainstream electoral practice in several democracies.
In Northern Europe, Iceland introduced postal voting in 1959, while Liechtenstein followed suit in 1973 and Luxembourg in 1979. New Zealand extended postal voting to all citizens in 1993, while Switzerland has allowed it nationally since 1994.
The United Kingdom modernised its electoral system in the early 2000s, introducing on-demand postal voting as part of wider reforms aimed at boosting turnout. Research from the British Election Study shows that older voters and those with disabilities have been most likely to benefit.
South Korea introduced postal ballots for all citizens in 2002, expanding from limited use among soldiers and expatriates. Poland is the most recent in Europe to open the option to all, doing so in 2011.
And, of course, the United States has been a prominent example. While mail-in voting has long been available to overseas military personnel, its widespread adoption varies by state. Republican-led Utah has mailed ballots to all voters for years, while states like Washington rely almost entirely on postal voting.
Countries with restricted postal voting
Twenty other countries maintain postal ballots for specific groups. Australia, for example, has permitted postal voting since 1902 but requires voters to provide a reason, such as illness or distance from polling stations. Austria, France, Ireland, and Spain have similar restrictions.
In Asia, India, Bhutan, Japan, Malaysia, and Pakistan limit postal voting primarily to military personnel, public servants on duty, or citizens abroad. Bangladesh itself has long offered a limited postal option for officials and members of the armed forces. The proposed app would represent the most significant expansion of this right in the country's history.
Elsewhere, smaller states such as the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, and Papua New Guinea allow citizens abroad to use postal ballots. Slovenia, Lithuania, and Zimbabwe also extend the facility selectively.
Security and fraud concerns
Every expansion of remote voting invites debate about security. Critics argue that the risk of manipulation, vote-buying, or tampering is higher outside polling stations. Former US President Donald Trump frequently described mail-in ballots as 'corrupt' and a 'hoax', claiming, without evidence, that they were unique to the United States.
Election experts disagree. David Becker, director of the nonpartisan Centre for Election Innovation & Research, told CNN, "Our elections are more secure, transparent, and verified than ever before in American history, thanks to the thousands of professional election officials of both parties, at the state and local level, that oversee them."
Richard Hasen, a professor of election law at UCLA, has called attempts to undermine the legitimacy of mail voting "wrong and dangerous," pointing out that US states have constitutional authority over how elections are conducted.
The Brennan Centre for Justice similarly argues there is "ample experience to show that a vote-by-mail option is safe and gives citizens the ability to participate." They acknowledged the need for vigilance, but highlighted that "the risk of widespread fraud is probably very minimal, even with all-mail elections."
Practices differ widely.
In the United States, voters can often track their ballots to ensure they have been counted, and some states allow 'ballot curing' if signatures or paperwork are missing. Such systems are not common elsewhere. In most countries, postal voting supplements, rather than replaces, in-person voting.
Annika Silva-Leander of IDEA noted in a CNN interview that Europe has the largest number of countries offering in-country postal voting. "No two countries have exactly the same system," she said, highlighting differences in tracking and eligibility rules.
