Washington state first began voting by mail in special elections in 1983, began permanent absentee voting by mail in 1991, and virtually all counties switched to all mail ballots in 2005. Other than some races not being decided until two weeks after election day after all the ballots trickle in and are counted, it has been a pretty trouble-free process. I have voted only by mail since 1991. Starting two years ago, you don't even have to put a stamp on the ballot. You can mail the ballots or drop them into a collection box. We usually drop them in the box since collection boxes are outside libraries, amongst other places, and I go to the library often.