{"id":7725,"date":"2026-07-20T00:34:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T04:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/?page_id=7725"},"modified":"2026-07-21T16:44:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:44:28","slug":"vote-by-mail","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\/vote-by-mail\/","title":{"rendered":"Vote-by-Mail"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-hero-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-hero fullwidth   cl-has-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-hero-proper\"><div class=\"overlay\"><div class=\"block\"><h1>Tools for Vote-by-Mail Elections<\/h1><\/div><\/div><div class=\"still\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/ENG-20220210-NL-054-scaled.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls-container\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-icon\" title=\"Accessibility controls\">Accessibility controls<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-motion-control cl-accessibility-control-hidden\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Pause motion\">Pause motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">On<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Play motion\">Play motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Off<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-contrast-control\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Increase text contrast\">Increase text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Standard<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Reset text contrast\">Reset text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">High<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-system-setting\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle\" title=\"Apply my preferences site-wide\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle-label\">Apply site-wide<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n<div class=\"breakout\" style=\"background: #eeeeee\">\n<div class=\"content-width\">\n\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-menu-wrapper\"><nav id=\"\" class=\"cl-menu  \" data-name=\"tools\" data-show-title=\"0\"><ul id=\"menu-tools\" class=\"cl-menu-list cl-menu-list-no-js\"><li id=\"menu-item-7738\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7738\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/planning-for-elections\/\">Planning for Elections<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-7736\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7736\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\/in-person\/\">In-Person<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-7737\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7737\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\/vote-by-mail\/\">Vote-by-Mail<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/section>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"type-intro fullwidth\">As more voters mail their ballots, election offices face a growing set of timing issues: the expected number of envelopes, the duration of each processing stage, staffing and equipment requirements, and the projected completion of results. At EDI, we develop a lead-time tool that helps election officials calculate mail-ballot processing time using data, reducing reliance on guesswork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"type-intro fullwidth\">The tool featured is publicly available, nonpartisan, and built to be utilized in real jurisdictions of any size. This tool reflects our mission and shifts our research to support vote-by-mail: applying rigorous engineering and research to deliver a better voting experience for officials and voters alike, one informed decision at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-panel-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-panel-super  \"><div class=\"cl-panel-super-blur\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/IMG_3212-scaled.jpg)\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-panel-super-content\"><div class=\"cl-panel-super-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/IMG_3212-scaled.jpg\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"A mail-ballot sorting machine with numbered trays labeled Reject, Received, and Group A, in front of a blue mural\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-panel-super-text\"><p>\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vote-by-Mail Lead Time Estimator<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><b>In collaboration with the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions (PLEJ), we developed a tool to estimate completion times, help officials plan resource allocation, and identify process improvements.<\/b> <strong>Election officials can build their vote-by-mail process by adding typical processing steps, then entering the number of envelopes, the ballot cards per envelope, and the details for each step.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<a class=\"cl-button   prominent\" href=\"https:\/\/vbmtime.app\/\" title=\"\">TOOL<\/a>\n\n<a class=\"cl-button  \" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/V7QCXF0yFOA\" title=\"\">DEMO<\/a>\n\n<a class=\"cl-button  \" href=\"https:\/\/taketheplej.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Handout-Vote-By-Mail-Calculator.pdf\" title=\"\">Quick How-To Guide<\/a>\n\n<a class=\"cl-button  \" href=\"https:\/\/vbmtime.app\/userguide.pdf\" title=\"\">USER GUIDE<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n<div class=\"breakout\" style=\"background: #eee\">\n<div class=\"content-width\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"567\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6280\" style=\"width:336px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-1024x415.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-768x311.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-364x147.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-500x203.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-1000x405.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-1280x518.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Engineering for Democracy Institute<\/strong><br><br>University of Rhode Island <br>College of Engineering<br>Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering<br>2 East Alumni Avenue, Kingston, RI 02881<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<a class=\"cl-button  \" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/contact-us\/\" title=\"\">Connect<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"4356\"><strong>ABOUT<\/strong><\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/team\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"6510\">Team<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools-2\/pocket-guide-project\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5191\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/funders\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"463\">Funders<\/a><br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/our-partners\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"6001\">Partners<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\">TOOLS<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/planning-for-elections\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/planning-for-elections\/\">Planning<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools-2\/pocket-guide-project\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5191\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/in-person\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"7632\">In-Person<br><\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\/vote-by-mail\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"7725\">Vote-by-Mail<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\">TRAINING<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\">Officials<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools-2\/pocket-guide-project\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5191\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/teachers\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/teachers\/\">Teachers<\/a><br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/learners\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/learners\/\">Students<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/research\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5061\">RESEARCH<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Projects<br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools-2\/pocket-guide-project\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5191\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/conference-papers\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5998\">Papers<\/a><br><br>Data<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>The Engineering for Democracy Institute may work with, and may accept funding from, individuals and organizations on all sides of the political spectrum. EDI\u2019s work is not and will not be influenced in any way by an individual\u2019s or organization\u2019s party affiliation or political perspective and it does not advocate for, nor work towards, the election or defeat of any individual candidates or the members of any specific political party or affiliation.<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-promo-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-promo   micro\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/givetoday\/\" class=\"cl-promo-micro-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-promo-micro-content\"><h1>Support Engineering for Democracy Institute<\/h1><span class=\"cl-promo-micro-text-link\">Give Today<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As more voters mail their ballots, election offices face a growing set of timing issues: the expected number of envelopes, the duration of each processing stage, staffing and equipment requirements, and the projected completion of results. At EDI, we develop a lead-time tool that helps election officials calculate mail-ballot processing time using data, reducing reliance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1568,"featured_media":0,"parent":5077,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-7725","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1568"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7725"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7725\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7788,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7725\/revisions\/7788"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}