Do you dread the thought of standing in line on Election Day? Afraid it will make you late for work or cause you to miss lunch? There is a solution, at least for those of you who are fortunate enough to live in one of the states that allow you to vote by mail.
Some states, like California, allow you to sign up for absentee ballots on a permanent basis, which means you will never again need to fear forgetting to vote on Election Day. Voters' Guides and ballots are mailed to your very own address with return envelopes provided.
Some states, like Oregon and Washington, have gone one step further and now all elections are decided with mail-in ballots.
Sadly, some states still restrict absentee votes to those who are elderly, handicapped, incarcerated (for non-felony offense), or unable to visit the polling place on Election Day. The reasons vary by state, so you should check your state's secretary of state website. Websites like Ballotpedia, or Long Distance Voter, can provide information and help you find the specific URLs for absentee ballots in your state.
Military service members have their own website that covers their special concerns with absentee voting.
Please contribute $3 or more to help Democrats win this November.
And remember, voting by mail is convenient, easy, and defeats the best of the GOP's voter suppression efforts. Sign up here to check eligibility and vote by mail, then get your friends, family, and coworkers to sign up as well.
Below the fold are the states that offer no fault absentee voting, including information on when the ballot must be requested and when it must be submitted.
State |
Deadline for requesting absentee ballot |
Deadline for submitting absentee ballot |
Alaska |
10 days before election |
Election day |
Arizona |
11 days before election |
7 PM on election day |
California |
October 28 |
Close of polls on election day |
Colorado |
7 days before election |
Close of polls on election day |
Florida |
7 days before election |
7 PM on election day |
Georgia |
Close of polls on election day |
7 PM on election day |
Hawaii |
7 days before election |
Close of polls on election day |
Idaho |
6 days before election |
8 PM on election day |
Illinois |
5 days before election |
Postmarked no later than midnight the night before election and received no later than 14 days after the election. |
Iowa
|
5 PM on the Friday before the election |
Postmarked the day before election day and received by noon on the Monday following the election |
Kansas |
5 days before election |
7 PM on election day |
Maine |
3 days before election |
8 PM on election day |
Maryland |
7 days before election |
By mail: postmarked on or before election day;
In person: 8 PM on election day |
Minnesota |
No deadline |
On or before election day |
Montana |
By noon the day before election |
Close of polls on election day |
Nebraska |
4 PM on the Wed before election |
8 PM on election day |
Nevada |
7 days before election |
7 PM on election day |
New Jersey |
By mail: 7 days before election
In person: 3 PM the day before election |
Close of polls on election day |
New Mexico |
5 PM Friday before election |
7 PM on election day |
North Carolina |
5 PM the Tuesday before the election |
5 PM the day before the election |
North Dakota |
No deadline |
Postmarked one day before the election |
Ohio |
Noon the third day before the election |
Postmarked one day before election and received no later than ten days after the election |
Oklahoma |
5 PM on the Wednesday before the election |
7 PM on election day |
Rhode Island |
21 days before the election |
9 PM on election day |
South Dakota |
5 PM the day before the election |
Close of polls on election day |
Utah
|
Thursday before election |
Postmarked the day before the election |
Vermont |
5 PM the day before the election |
To town clerk by close of business on election day or to polling place by 7 PM on election day |
Wisconsin |
5 PM on Thursday before election |
Postmarked by election day and received no later than 4 PM on the Friday after the election |
Wyoming |
No deadline |
7 PM on election day |
Check your state for further details.