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Department of Political Science Our Votes – Our Values Grades 5-12 Political Science Lesson Plan
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  • Component 4: Mail-In Voting in West Virginia and Around the World

Case Study Two: Component Four

Mail-In Voting in West Virginia and Around the World

This component introduces students to the broader global context of mail-in voting, offering a comparative lens through which they can analyze West Virginia’s absentee voting system. While mail-in voting in the U.S. has grown more common in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, other countries have long-standing systems or are just beginning to experiment with the practice. By examining case studies from Switzerland, Estonia, and Albania, students will evaluate how different systems function, what challenges they face, and how voter access and security are balanced around the world.

 

In West Virginia, absentee voting by mail is available only to voters who qualify under specific conditions, such as being out of the county on Election Day, being ill or disabled, or participating in the Address Confidentiality Program. Voters must apply for a ballot, which is then mailed to them and must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the start of the county canvass.

This contrasts with practices in other U.S. states, where “no-excuse” absentee voting is common and, in some cases, voters automatically receive ballots without needing to request them. Internationally, countries like Switzerland and Estonia have adopted even more expansive models, while others, like Albania, are still navigating the logistical and political complexities of introducing mail-in voting.

By exploring these examples, students will consider the benefits and limitations of different voting models and reflect on how election systems are shaped by local needs, political cultures, and technological infrastructure.


Exercises for This Component:

Global Systems Comparison

Students will read brief overviews of mail-in voting in Switzerland, Estonia, and Albania. In small groups or individually, they will compare these countries’ approaches with West Virginia’s system.
In their notes or a Venn diagram, students should consider:

  • Who is eligible to vote by mail?
  • Are ballots automatically sent, or must they be requested?
  • What delivery methods are available (postal, digital, drop boxes)?
  • What challenges or controversies have arisen?
Switzerland has one of the most robust vote-by-mail systems in the world. Since 1978, Swiss cantons have progressively adopted postal voting. Today, over 90% of Swiss voters return their ballots by mail. Voters receive ballots and informational materials several weeks before an election and may return ballots by mail or deposit them in local boxes. Elections in Switzerland emphasize transparency and community engagement, with ballots typically counted manually at the local level.

Estonia has taken a different approach by pioneering digital voting. Since 2005, Estonia has offered online voting ("i-voting") to citizens with a secure national ID. Voters can cast ballots online during an early voting period and even change their vote. Over half of Estonian voters now use this method. While concerns about cybersecurity remain, Estonia has prioritized digital literacy and citizen trust in government institutions to support the system's success.

Albania, by contrast, is a newer entrant to vote-by-mail systems. In the 2025 parliamentary elections, Albania allowed citizens living abroad to vote by mail for the first time. However, problems quickly emerged. Ballot delivery delays, particularly to voters in Greece, led the Central Election Commission (CEC) to demand an urgent report from the mail service provider. These logistical challenges highlight the importance of infrastructure, clear timelines, and coordination between agencies when implementing mail voting for diaspora populations.


Case Study - Albania’s 2025 Voting Challenges

Students will read a short article describing Albania’s difficulties with ballot delivery during its 2025 diaspora voting rollout.

https://albaniantimes.al/cec-demands-urgent-report-from-dhl-over-ballot-delivery-issues-in-greece/

After reading, students respond to the following questions:

  • What went wrong in Albania’s mail-in voting process?
  • How might logistical issues affect voter trust or participation?
  • How could this situation have been prevented?
  • What lessons could West Virginia or other states learn from Albania’s experience?

Exit Ticket – Local Reflection, Global Perspective

To close the component, ask students to answer the following:

  • Do you think West Virginia should move toward a more accessible mail-in voting system? Why or why not?
  • Which international model do you think would work best in the U.S., and what challenges might it face here?

Discussion Prompts:

  • What can West Virginia learn from countries that have higher rates of voting by mail?
  • How do differences in infrastructure and technology affect how mail-in voting works around the world?
  • Should voting systems prioritize access or security, or can they do both?