PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – For nearly 30 years, Oregonians have had the option to vote by mail. Now, one Oregon representative wants to bring that right across the nation.

On Friday, Oregon Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act, which would ensure that all eligible voters in the United States have the option to vote by mail.

“Every eligible voter should be able to participate in our elections, including folks who can’t make it to the polls due to age, illness, disability, or simply because they work two or three jobs and don’t have the time,” Rep. Salinas said. "Oregon has been a vote-by-mail state for almost 30 years, and we also have one of the safest and most secure elections systems in the country with consistently high levels of participation. Establishing a national right to vote by mail would only strengthen our democracy by allowing more Americans to make their voices heard."

The Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by creating an option for no-excuse absentee voting in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Additionally, the legislation would require states to provide voters the opportunity to cure their ballots.

Currently, 36 states -- including Oregon, along with the District of Columbia -- allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail, which has been proven to increase voter turnout and decrease barriers to voting, the congresswoman's office said in a press release announcing the bill.

According to estimates from the University of Florida Election Lab, Oregon was among a handful of states with the highest voter turnout in the last election. Data from the Oregon Secretary of State's Office shows Oregon voter turnout in the 2024 general election was over 75%.

Salinas pointed out that states that previously did not have “extensive access” to vote-by-mail and changed their policies during the COVID-19 pandemic saw voter turnout increase by an average of 8%.

“At the same time, about 50% of all eligible Americans who did not cast a ballot in the 2022 midterm elections cited logistical issues, such as bad weather, illness, disability, and long lines, as their reason for not voting,” Salinas' office said.

The bill has several co-sponsors including Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and is endorsed by the National Disability Rights Network, the League of Women Voters of the United States, the National Vote at Home Institute and Common Cause.

"When Americans can securely and conveniently vote at home for any reason, it's not a win for a candidate or a party, it's a win for democracy,” said Barbara Smith Warner, Executive Director of the National Vote at Home Institute. “Unrestricted access to mail ballots sidesteps common barriers that keep too many Americans from voting, from work schedules, illness and childcare to long lines and weather events. We thank Rep. Salinas for introducing this important legislation that will benefit all voters."

"Voting by mail is a tradition in the US that is over a century old. It is important for ensuring access to the ballot for those voters with disabilities whose polling places remain inaccessible to them," said Marlene Sallo, Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network. "Universal vote by mail is a crucial step in making elections work for all voters by removing unnecessary barriers to mailed ballots."