Which Countries Use Mail-In Ballots? Complete 2025 List of Nations Allowing Postal Voting

As debate over absentee voting heats up again in the United States, voters are asking a simple question: which countries actually use mail-in ballots? Data from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) show that postal voting is hardly an American anomaly—in fact, dozens of democracies rely on it during nationwide elections. Key takeaways at a glance • 12 countries—including Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and South Korea—allow every eligible voter to cast a ballot through the mail for federal elections. • A further 22 nations, such as France, Japan, Mexico, and South Africa, limit mail-in voting to specific groups like overseas citizens, the military, people with disabilities, or residents of remote regions. • Only a handful of advanced democracies forbid any form of domestic postal voting, instead offering early in-person or proxy alternatives. Why universal mail-in voting works elsewhere 1. Strong voter-ID verification: Countries such as Germany pair postal ballots with mandatory national ID numbers and signature checks, greatly reducing fraud risk. 2. Centralized voter rolls: Australia’s federal electoral commission maintains a single, continuously updated register, preventing duplicate ballots before they are mailed. 3. Culture of election administration: In Switzerland, cantonal officials have decades of experience processing mailed ballots, which now account for roughly 90 percent of votes cast in referendums. Partial systems still expand turnout France restricts postal voting to people who are ill or incarcerated, yet turnout among those groups rose by double digits in the 2022 presidential race. Mexico’s limited program for citizens abroad mailed more than 80,000 secure ballots in 2024, up from just 40,000 a decade earlier. How the U.S. compares Contrary to recent claims that America is “the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting,” at least 34 sovereign states offer it in some form, and many grant universal access. What makes the U.S. unique is the patchwork: rules differ not just by state but sometimes by county, creating confusion and uneven access. Security record International IDEA finds no documented cases of systemic fraud overturning a national election in countries that allow postal voting. Most rely on bar-coded envelopes, signature matching, and real-time ballot-tracking portals—technologies already deployed in several U.S. states. Looking ahead With turnout climbing whenever mail options are expanded, more countries—from Chile to Indonesia—are piloting postal ballots for 2026 elections. The global trend suggests that secure, convenient voting by mail is becoming a new democratic norm, not an outlier. SEO FAQ What is a mail-in ballot? A ballot delivered to voters and returned by postal service or drop box instead of in-person voting. Which countries let everyone vote by mail? Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, among others. Is mail voting safe? Experts cite multilayer verification, unique barcodes, and criminal penalties for tampering as effective safeguards. Can U.S. states learn from abroad? Yes—centralized voter rolls, national IDs, and standardized envelope design are proven best practices overseas. Bottom line Far from being alone, the United States is part of a growing international cohort that trusts voters to mark, seal, and send their ballots—proof that democracy can travel safely through the mail.