absentee vote

American  

noun

1. a vote cast by a person who, because of absence from usual voting district, illness, or the like, has been permitted to vote by mail.

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Other Word Forms

• absentee voter noun

Etymology

Origin of absentee vote

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

“People always ask me, ‘Well, why don’t you absentee vote?

From Washington Post • Nov. 8, 2022

The state leaves it up to counties to decide when to release updates on their tallies of the absentee vote, said Jerry Goldfeder, an election law attorney who’s represented New York candidates for 40 years.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2020

Eric Blakeslee, 47, of Raleigh, who works in information technology, said he voted in person on Tuesday because he was concerned that Republican challenges to mail-in ballots might mean an absentee vote could be invalidated.

From Reuters • Nov. 3, 2020

Elections officials in some cities there have trained poll workers to deal with disruptive people at the polls or aggressive challengers at absentee vote counting boards.

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2020

The Associated Press declared Delaney the winner Thursday night after an absentee vote count.

From Washington Times • Nov. 7, 2014