What was the former name for Vote by Mail?

The term "Vote by Mail" was previously known as "Absentee voting." This designation originated when voters could request a ballot to be sent to them if they could not vote in person on Election Day, often due to being out of their registered voting location or having other valid reasons. The practice of absentee voting allowed individuals a way to participate in elections without being physically present at their polling place.

This terminology has evolved, and "Vote by Mail" is now commonly used to describe the broader process where voters can receive and submit their ballots through the mail without needing to provide a specific reason for not voting in person. Understanding this historical context is important for recognizing how voting methods have been adapted over time to increase voter access and participation.

In contrast, the other options such as in-person voting, email voting, and remote voting refer to different forms of voting processes that do not pertain to the traditional absentee voting methodology. In-person voting is about casting ballots on-site, while email voting and remote voting imply different modern methods that are not the same as the historical absentee voting.