U.S. — A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in April 2026 found that 59% of U.S. adults say any voter should have the option to cast a ballot early or absentee without providing a reason. This survey included responses from 5,103 U.S. adults and was conducted between April 20 and April 26, 2026.

Democratic support for no-excuse early or absentee voting has remained consistent, with approximately 80% of Democrats stating since 2018 that this option should be available to any voter. In the April 2026 survey, 81% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say early or absentee voting should be accessible without requiring a documented reason.

Republican support for no-excuse early or absentee voting decreased between 2018 and 2026. In 2018, 57% of Republicans indicated that any voter should be able to vote early or absentee without documenting a reason. By April 2026, this figure declined to 34% of Republicans. The 2026 survey also found that 66% of Republicans and GOP leaners say early or absentee voting should only be available to voters with a documented reason for not voting in person on Election Day.

Voter behavior during the 2024 presidential election showed that approximately 33% of ballots were cast in person on Election Day. Support for no-excuse early or absentee voting varied based on state voting laws.

The survey found that in states where mail-in ballots are automatically sent to all voters, 67% of adults support no-excuse early or absentee voting. In states where no excuse is required to vote by mail, 59% of adults support no-excuse early or absentee voting. In contrast, 53% of adults residing in states that require a valid excuse to vote by mail support no-excuse early or absentee voting.

Among Republicans, 40% living in states with universal mail-in ballot access favor no-excuse early or absentee voting, while 33% of Republicans in states without universal mail-in ballot access hold the same view. For Democrats, support is higher; 83% in states where no excuse is required for absentee voting support the measure, compared to 75% in states that require an excuse for absentee voting.