The thing about mail ballots-they’ve been around forever. My first time voting for potus was 1968 by mail in absentee. In those days you (per memory) had to tell why you can’t show up in person but no one checked. Early voting is also a big boon to participation. My wife and I voted by mail but dropped if off at town hall since we as usual procrastinated and cut the mail window too close. Never miss voting even for only local elections. The rules of how to fill out and where to put your ballot by mail in MA requires you to carefully pay attention!