25 states allow some voters to submit their ballots electronically — here’s how that works

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In 25 states, service members who qualify under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act can submit their ballots via email or through an online portal.
Approximately 100,000 service members sent in their ballots electronically in 2016, but cybersecurity experts warn that online voting is susceptible to malware attacks and privacy breaches.

America's voter turnout rates are much lower on average than those of other Western democracies, with 60% of eligible voters casting ballots in the 2016 presidential election, and just 36% in the 2014 midterms.

Online voting has been floated as a suggestion to increase turnout by making the voting process much more convenient, literally placing it at the tip of your fingers. In one 2015 poll, 49% of 18-34 year old Americans surveyed said they would be more likely to vote if they would do so online.

While online voting is unavailable for most Americans, some states allow military service members and other select overseas citizens to send in their ballots over email, fax, or in an online voting portal. In 2016, an estimated 100,000 military voters submitted their ballots electronically.

Most online voting rights are reserved for voters that fall under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Because military personnel are often placed in remote areas without consistent access to mail services, emailing their ballots to their local election authorities or casting votes through a portal is often a more reliable option.

But cybersecurity experts have warned that voting online opens up voters, election officials, and their devices to systemic malware attacks, privacy breaches, and "denial of service" attacks that can disable an entire town's election systems.

Alaska, which previously had one of the most accessible online voting platforms, suspended online voting in the wake of foreign hacks on US voting infrastructure in the 2016 election. But West Virginia is experimenting with a brand-new mobile app that relies on blockchain technology for service members to submit their votes.

Here are all the states that allow service members to submit ballots online:

Arizona

Arizona permits certain UOCAVA voters with authorization from their county to use an online voting portal. This will allow voters to upload their absentee ballots straight to the website.

Colorado

In Colorado, UOCAVA are the only citizens that can vote online using email.

Delaware

District of Columbia

While not a state, Washington D.C. also allows voters that fall under UOCAVA to vote via email.

Hawaii

In 2016, the Hawaii State Legislature enacted legislation to allow "permanent absentee" voters, like military service members, to recieve and return their ballots via email if they request an absentee ballot less than 5 days before an election.

Idaho

Idaho allows military voters to recieve and return their ballots via fax or email.

Indiana

Indiana allows voters that fall under UOCAVA to vote via email.

Iowa

In Iowa, all absentee ballots must be returned via postal mail, unless you are "

Kansas

Kansas also only allows online absentee voting options to UOCAVA voters that can submit their vote via email. Kansas' Secretary of State website encourages voters to choose options for improving the security of their email.

Maine

In Maine, UOCAVA voters can return their ballots electronically via email.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts also allows online voting for UOCAVA voters via email.

Mississippi

Missouri

Missouri allows voters serving in hostile fire or imminent danger areas to vote either via email or through their online portal.

Montana

Nebraska

Nebraska allows overseas military voters to send in their ballots via fax or email.

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

North Carolina

North Dakota

North Dakota allows UOCAVA voters to vote in their online portal. While they also allow these voters to submit their votes using postal mail and fax, they encourage the online portal, saying "voters using the electronic methods will expedite the process."

Oregon

South Carolina

Utah

Like many states, Utah allows UOCAVA voters to return their ballots online using their online ballot marking tool. It also allows voters with disabilities to mark their ballots online.

Washington

West Virginia

Lori Janjigian contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Read more of Business Insider's 2018 Midterm Election coverage:

25 states allow some voters to submit their ballots electronically — here’s how that works

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