You’ve probably heard the claim that the United States is the only country that uses mail-in voting. Or maybe you've heard that it's a "uniquely American" mess. Honestly? Both ideas are pretty far from the truth. If you look at the data from 2024 and 2025, it’s clear that voting by mail—often called "postal voting" once you cross the border—is a massive global operation. But it doesn't look the same everywhere.
Some countries have used it for over a century. Others tried it, hated it, and banned it.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) tracks this stuff closely. Their latest data shows that about 34 countries or territories allow some form of in-country postal voting. That might sound like a small number out of nearly 200 nations, but it includes some of the world's most stable democracies.
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The "No-Excuse" Club: Where Anyone Can Mail a Ballot
In many parts of the world, you don't need a doctor's note or a plane ticket to prove you can't make it to the polls. You just... ask for a ballot. Or, in a few radical cases, they just send it to you.
Switzerland is the heavyweight champion here. Since the 1990s, the Swiss have basically perfected the art of the mail-in ballot. In many cantons, over 90% of voters choose to skip the line and use the mail. It's so ingrained in their culture that the "polling station" is almost an afterthought.
Then there’s Germany. They’ve had a version of this since 1957. Back then, it was strictly for the "old, sick, or disabled." But by 2008, they dropped all the requirements. Now, anyone can do it. In their 2025 federal election, nearly 37% of the electorate—that’s about 18.5 million people—cast their votes by post. No drama, just stamps.
A Quick Look at the Leaders
- Canada: Since 1993, every single Canadian citizen has been eligible to vote by mail. They call it the "Special Ballot."
- Australia: They’ve been doing this for over 100 years. If you’re traveling, working, or just can't get to a booth, you're in.
- United Kingdom: They moved to "on-demand" postal voting in the early 2000s. It’s huge there, especially with older voters and people with disabilities.
- South Korea: A bit of a surprise to some, but they allow postal voting for people with specific disabilities or those living in remote areas.
Why Some Countries Said "No Thanks"
It’s not all sunshine and stamps. France is the classic cautionary tale. They actually had mail-in voting for a long time, but they killed it in 1975. Why? Fraud. Specifically, a bunch of scares in the late 60s and early 70s led the government to believe the system was too easy to manipulate. Today, France is very "in-person." If you can't show up, you usually have to use a "proxy"—meaning you literally give your voting rights to a friend to go to the booth for you.
India is another interesting case. With over a billion people, you’d think they’d love the efficiency of mail. But they are incredibly protective of the "controlled environment" of the polling station. Currently, they only allow postal ballots for specific groups: "essential service" workers (like railway staff), voters over 85, and people with disabilities. Even then, it’s a source of constant debate among political parties.
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The Fraud Question: Is It Actually Common?
This is where the nuance matters. Critics of mail-in voting often point to the "uncontrolled environment" of a kitchen table. They worry about "family voting," where one person in a household pressures everyone else to vote a certain way.
According to Annika Silva-Leander at International IDEA, different countries handle security in wildly different ways. Most European nations don't have "ballot tracking" like the US does. They rely more on the general reliability of their postal services and strict ID requirements at the application stage.
The "curing" process—where you can fix a mistake on your ballot after you send it—is also almost uniquely American. In most other countries, if you mess up the envelope or forget to sign, your vote is just gone.
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What Actually Changes When a Country Adopts It?
Does it help one party over another? Research from places like Oregon, Washington, and California suggests it mostly just increases turnout across the board.
In the UK, a 2021 study showed that the expansion of postal voting didn't necessarily change who won, but it made life a lot easier for people with limited mobility. It turns out that when you make it easier to vote, more people do it. Shocking, right?
But it also slows things down. Australia has seen delays of up to 13 days in declaring winners because they allow postal votes to arrive well after Election Day. If you like knowing the winner by 10 PM on a Tuesday, a global-style mail-in system might drive you crazy.
What You Should Watch For Next
If you're following global election trends, don't look for a "one size fits all" model. The world is splitting into two camps. On one side, you have the "High Convenience" nations like Switzerland, Canada, and Germany. On the other, you have countries like France and Brazil that prioritize the physical security of the polling place above all else.
Check these specific details if you want to understand a country's system:
- Does the voter have to "apply" every single time, or is it automatic?
- Is there a "witness" requirement (like in Australia)?
- Does the mail have to arrive by Election Day, or just be postmarked by then?
The reality of global mail-in voting is that it’s a tool, not a miracle. It’s about a trade-off between accessibility and the absolute certainty of a controlled environment.
To stay informed on how these laws are changing in real-time, you can monitor the International IDEA Special Voting Arrangements Tool, which is updated as countries tweak their rules after major election cycles. Knowing the specific "excuse" requirements for your own region is the best way to ensure your voice is actually heard when the next cycle rolls around.