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Absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines, 2024
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Absentee/mail-in voting is voting that does not happen in person on Election Day but instead occurs another way (generally by mail). All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in balloting. Some states require voters to provide a valid excuse to vote absentee/by mail, while others allow any eligible voter to cast an absentee/mail-in ballot.[1][2]
This article lists absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines for the statewide primaries and general elections in states in 2024. For additional information about absentee/mail-in voting, see this article.
Absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines for the 2024 general election
The table below summarizes the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines and the type of deadlines for the general election in 2024.
| Absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines for general elections, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State/Description | Election date | In-person return deadline | Mail return deadline | Mail return deadline type | Source |
| Alabama | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Alaska | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Arizona | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Arkansas | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| California | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Colorado | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Connecticut | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| District of Columbia | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Delaware | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Florida | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Georgia | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Georgia (Runoff) | 12/3/2024 | 12/3/2024 | 12/3/2024 | Received | Source |
| Hawaii | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Idaho | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Illinois | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Indiana | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Iowa | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Kansas | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Kentucky | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Louisiana (Presidential) | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| Louisiana (Statewide general) | 12/7/2024 | 12/6/2024 | 12/6/2024 | Received | Source |
| Maine | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Maryland | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Massachusetts | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Michigan | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Minnesota | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Mississippi | 11/5/2024 | N/A | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Mississippi (Runoff) | 11/26/2024 | N/A | 11/26/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Missouri | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Montana | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Nebraska | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Nevada | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| New Hampshire | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| New Jersey | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| New Mexico | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| New York | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| North Carolina | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| North Dakota | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Ohio | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Oklahoma | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Oregon | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Pennsylvania | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Rhode Island | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| South Carolina | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| South Dakota | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Tennessee | 11/5/2024 | N/A | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Texas | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Utah | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Vermont | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| Virginia | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Washington | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| West Virginia | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Wisconsin (Spring) | 4/2/2024 | 4/2/2024 | 4/2/2024 | Received | Source |
| Wisconsin (Fall) | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Wyoming | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | Received | Source |
Absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines for 2024 statewide primary elections
The table below summarizes the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines and the type of deadlines for statewide primary elections in 2024. Statewide primary elections are administered by each state according to state law. They allow political parties that meet certain state qualifications to determine which candidates will represent them in the general election. Candidates for U.S. Congress, state executive offices, and state legislative offices typically run in statewide primary elections.
| Absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines for statewide primary elections, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State/Description | Election date | In-person return deadline | Mail return deadline | Mail return deadline type | Source |
| Alabama | 3/5/2024 | 3/4/2024 | 3/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Alabama (Runoff) | 4/16/2024 | 4/15/2024 | 4/16/2024 | Received | Source |
| Alaska | 8/20/2024 | 8/20/2024 | 8/20/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Arizona | 7/30/2024 | 7/30/2024 | 7/30/2024 | Received | Source |
| Arkansas | 3/5/2024 | 3/5/2024 | 3/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| Arkansas (Runoff) | 4/2/2024 | 4/2/2024 | 4/2/2024 | Received | Source |
| California | 3/5/2024 | 3/5/2024 | 3/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Colorado | 6/25/2024 | 6/25/2024 | 6/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| Connecticut | 8/13/2024 | 8/12/2024 | 8/13/2024 | Received | Source |
| Delaware | 9/10/2024 | 9/10/2024 | 9/10/2024 | Received | Source |
| District of Columbia | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Florida | 8/20/2024 | 8/20/2024 | 8/20/2024 | Received | Source |
| Georgia | 5/21/2024 | 5/21/2024 | 5/21/2024 | Received | Source |
| Georgia (Runoff) | 6/18/2024 | 6/18/2024 | 6/18/2024 | Received | Source |
| Hawaii | 8/10/2024 | 8/10/2024 | 8/10/2024 | Received | Source |
| Idaho | 5/21/2024 | 5/21/2024 | 5/21/2024 | Received | Source |
| Illinois | 3/19/2024 | 3/19/2024 | 3/19/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Indiana | 5/7/2024 | 5/7/2024 | 5/7/2024 | Received | Source |
| Iowa | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| Kansas | 8/6/2024 | 8/6/2024 | 8/6/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Kentucky | 5/21/2024 | 5/21/2024 | 5/21/2024 | Received | Source |
| Louisiana | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| Maine | 6/11/2024 | 6/11/2024 | 6/11/2024 | Received | Source |
| Maryland | 5/14/2024 | 5/14/2024 | 5/14/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Massachusetts | 9/3/2024 | 9/3/2024 | 9/3/2024 | Received | Source |
| Michigan | 8/6/2024 | 8/6/2024 | 8/6/2024 | Received | Source |
| Minnesota | 8/13/2024 | 8/13/2024 | 8/13/2024 | Received | Source |
| Mississippi | 3/12/2024 | N/A | 3/12/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Mississippi (Runoff) | 4/2/2024 | N/A | 4/2/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Missouri | 8/6/2024 | 8/6/2024 | 8/6/2024 | Received | Source |
| Montana | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| Nebraska | 5/14/2024 | 5/14/2024 | 5/14/2024 | Received | Source |
| Nevada | 6/11/2024 | 6/11/2024 | 6/11/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| New Hampshire | 9/10/2024 | 9/9/2024 | 9/10/2024 | Received | Source |
| New Jersey | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| New Mexico | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| New York | 6/25/2024 | 6/25/2024 | 6/25/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| North Carolina | 3/5/2024 | 3/5/2024 | 3/5/2024 | Received | Source |
| North Carolina (Runoff) | 5/14/2024 | 5/14/2024 | 5/14/2024 | Received | Source |
| North Dakota | 6/11/2024 | 6/10/2024 | 6/10/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Ohio | 3/19/2024 | 3/19/2024 | 3/18/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Oklahoma | 6/18/2024 | 6/18/2024 | 6/18/2024 | Received | Source |
| Oklahoma (Runoff) | 8/27/2024 | 8/27/2024 | 8/27/2024 | Received | Source |
| Oregon | 5/21/2024 | 5/21/2024 | 5/21/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Pennsylvania | 4/23/2024 | 4/23/2024 | 4/23/2024 | Received | Source |
| Rhode Island | 9/10/2024 | 9/10/2024 | 9/10/2024 | Received | Source |
| South Carolina | 6/11/2024 | 6/11/2024 | 6/11/2024 | Received | Source |
| South Carolina (Runoff) | 6/25/2024 | 6/25/2024 | 6/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| South Dakota | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | 6/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| Tennessee | 8/1/2024 | N/A | 8/1/2024 | Received | Source |
| Texas | 3/5/2024 | 3/5/2024 | 3/5/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Texas (Runoff) | 5/28/2024 | 5/28/2024 | 5/28/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Utah | 6/25/2024 | 6/25/2024 | 6/24/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Vermont | 8/13/2024 | 8/13/2024 | 8/12/2024 | Received | Source |
| Virginia | 6/18/2024 | 6/18/2024 | 6/18/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Washington | 8/6/2024 | 8/6/2024 | 8/6/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| West Virginia | 5/14/2024 | 5/13/2024 | 5/14/2024 | Postmarked | Source |
| Wisconsin (Spring) | 2/20/2024 | 2/20/2024 | 2/20/2024 | Received | Source |
| Wisconsin (Fall) | 8/13/2024 | 8/13/2024 | 8/13/2024 | Received | Source |
| Wyoming | 8/20/2024 | 8/20/2024 | 8/20/2024 | Received | Source |
Absentee/mail-in voting procedures by state
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
The table below summarizes existing statutory absentee/mail-in voting procedures in the states.
| Absentee/mail-in voting procedures by state | ||
|---|---|---|
| State | Absentee/mail-in voting type | Description |
| Alabama | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Alaska | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Arizona | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Arkansas | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| California | Automatic mail-in voting | Every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default. |
| Colorado | Automatic mail-in voting | Every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default. |
| Connecticut | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Delaware | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Florida | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Georgia | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Hawaii | Automatic mail-in voting | Every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default. |
| Idaho | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Illinois | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Indiana | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Iowa | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Kansas | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Kentucky | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Louisiana | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Maine | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Maryland | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Massachusetts | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Michigan | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Minnesota | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Mississippi | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Missouri | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Montana | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Nebraska | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Nevada | Automatic mail-in voting | Every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default. |
| New Hampshire | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| New Jersey | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| New Mexico | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| New York | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| North Carolina | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| North Dakota | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Ohio | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Oklahoma | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Oregon | Automatic mail-in voting | Every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default. |
| Pennsylvania | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Rhode Island | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| South Carolina | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| South Dakota | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Tennessee | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Texas | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Utah | Automatic mail-in voting | Every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default. |
| Vermont | Automatic mail-in voting (general elections only) | Every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default. |
| Virginia | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Washington | Automatic mail-in voting | Every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default. |
| West Virginia | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | Excuse required. |
| Wisconsin | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
| Wyoming | Request-required absentee/mail-in voting | No excuse required. |
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Footnotes
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Absentee and Early Voting," July 30, 2023
- ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
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