Absentee/mail-in voting

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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]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Several states have modified their absentee/mail-in voting procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. See here for more information.
  • Absentee/mail-in voting procedures can be divided into two categories: automatic mail-in ballot systems and request-required mail-in ballot systems.
  • Automatic mail-in ballot systems mandate that all eligible voters receive either a ballot or ballot application by default. These are sometimes referred to as all-mail voting systems.
  • Request-required mail-in ballot systems require that eligible voters initiate the process for receiving, and casting, mail-in ballots. These have traditionally been described as absentee voting systems.

    • Absentee/mail-in voting in 2020

    The sections below detail absentee/mail-in voting requirements and deadlines in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five permanently inhabited U.S. territories for the November 3, 2020, general election.

    Eligibility

    How to use this interactive table: The table comprises five columns:

    • State
    • Are there eligibility limits? ("Yes" indicates that only voters meeting select eligibility criteria can vote by absentee/mail-in ballot)
    • Were changes made due to COVID-19?
    • COVID-19 changes (entries in this field describe changes made to absentee/mail-in voting procedures due to COVID-19)
    • Source (a link to a state website describing absentee/mail-in voting eligibility requirements)

    Each of the five columns can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically. To sort a column, click the column heading. To search for a state, enter the state name in the search bar above the upper right-hand corner of the table.

    By default, the table displays 10 states at a time. To see additional states on subsequent pages, use the navigation prompts under the bottom right-hand corner of the table. To change the number of states displayed on a single page, use the drop-down menu above the upper left-hand corner of the table.


    Request deadlines

    How to use this interactive table: The table comprises five columns:

    • State
    • In-person request deadline (the last day voters can submit absentee/mail-in voting requests in person, if applicable)
    • Online request deadline (the last day voters can submit absentee/mail-in voting requests online, if applicable)
    • Mail request deadline (the last day voters can submit absentee/mail-in voting requests by mail)
    • Mail postmark or receipt deadline (whether the mail request deadline is a postmark or receipt deadline)

    Each of the five columns can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically. To sort a column, click the column heading. To search for a state, enter the state name in the search bar above the upper right-hand corner of the table.

    By default, the table displays 10 states at a time. To see additional states on subsequent pages, use the navigation prompts under the bottom right-hand corner of the table. To change the number of states displayed on a single page, use the drop-down menu above the upper left-hand corner of the table.


    Request requirements

    How to use this interactive table: The table comprises five columns:

    • State
    • Is other documentation required? ("Yes" indicates that a voter must include additional documentation with his or her absentee/mail-in ballot request)
    • Required documentation (a description of required additional documentation, if applicable)
    • Source (a link to a state website describing absentee/mail-in ballot request procedures)
    • Request URL (a link to a state website where voters can either request an absentee/mail-in ballot directly or access an application form)

    Each of the five columns can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically. To sort a column, click the column heading. To search for a state, enter the state name in the search bar above the upper right-hand corner of the table.

    By default, the table displays 10 states at a time. To see additional states on subsequent pages, use the navigation prompts under the bottom right-hand corner of the table. To change the number of states displayed on a single page, use the drop-down menu above the upper left-hand corner of the table.


    Return deadlines

    How to use this interactive table: The table comprises four columns:

    • State
    • In-person return deadline (the last day on which a voter can return a completed absentee/mail-in ballot in person, if applicable)
    • Mail return deadline (the last day on which a voter can return a completed absentee/mail-in ballot by mail)
    • Mail postmark or receipt deadline (whether the mail return deadline is a postmark or receipt deadline)

    Each of the four columns can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically. To sort a column, click the column heading. To search for a state, enter the state name in the search bar above the upper right-hand corner of the table.

    By default, the table displays 10 states at a time. To see additional states on subsequent pages, use the navigation prompts under the bottom right-hand corner of the table. To change the number of states displayed on a single page, use the drop-down menu above the upper left-hand corner of the table.


    Signature and witness requirements

    How to use this interactive table: The table comprises three columns:

    • State
    • Notary or witness requirements
    • Signature requirements

    Each of the three columns can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically. To sort a column, click the column heading. To search for a state, enter the state name in the search bar above the upper right-hand corner of the table.

    By default, the table displays 10 states at a time. To see additional states on subsequent pages, use the navigation prompts under the bottom right-hand corner of the table. To change the number of states displayed on a single page, use the drop-down menu above the upper left-hand corner of the table.


    Temporary modifications to absentee/mail-in voting procedures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

    See also: Changes to absentee/mail-in voting procedures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

    The map and table below summarize modifications made to absentee/mail-in voting procedures in the 2020 general election.

    Absentee/mail-in voting procedure modifications for the general election, 2020
    State Voting-age population Description
    Alabama 3,814,879 Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility requirements suspended, allowing all voters to cast ballots by mail in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Alaska 551,562 Witness requirement suspended.
    Arizona 5,638,481 N/A
    Arkansas 2,317,649 Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) and Secretary of State John Thurston (R) announced that voters in the November 3, 2020, general election would be allowed to cite concerns over COVID-19 as a valid excuse for voting absentee. Hutchinson subsequently issued an executive order formalizing this policy change.
    California 30,617,582 Mail-in ballots sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 423 into law, authorizing counties to consolidate polling places in the November 3, 2020, general election, among other modifications to administration procedures
    Colorado 4,499,217 N/A
    Connecticut 2,837,847 Mail-in ballot applications sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election. Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility extended to any voter in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Delaware 770,192 Mail-in ballot applications sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Florida 17,247,808 N/A
    Georgia 8,113,542 N/A
    Hawaii 1,116,004 N/A
    Idaho 1,338,864 N/A
    Illinois 9,853,946 Mail-in ballot applications sent to all registered voters in the November 3, 2020, general election who cast ballots in the 2018 general election, the 2019 consolidated election, or the 2020 primary election.
    Indiana 5,164,245 N/A
    Iowa 2,428,229 Mail-in ballot applications sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Kansas 2,213,064 N/A
    Kentucky 3,464,802 Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility requirements suspended, allowing all voters "concerned with contracting or spreading COVID-19" to cast ballots by mail in the November 3, 2020, general election. Early voting available Monday through Saturday beginning October 13, 2020. Affidavit option for voter ID requirement implemented for the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Louisiana 3,561,164 Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility extended to the following voters in the November 3, 2020 general election: those at higher risk because of serious medical conditions, those subject to a 'medically necessary quarantine or isolation order,' those advised by a health provider to self-quarantine, those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis, and those caring for an individual who is subject to a quarantine order and has been advised to self-quarantine.
    Maine 1,095,370 The voter pre-registration deadline in the November 3, 2020, general election was extended to October 19, 2020.
    Maryland 4,710,993 Mail-in ballot applications sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Massachusetts 5,539,703 Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility extended to all qualified voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Michigan 7,842,924 Mail-in ballot applications sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Minnesota 4,336,475 The absentee/mail-in ballot postmark deadline for the general election was extended to November 3, 2020. Witness requirements for absentee/mail-in ballots cast in the general election were suspended.
    Mississippi 2,277,566 Absentee/mail-in ballot postmark deadline extended to November 3, 2020, for the November 3, 2020, election; receipt deadline extended to November 8, 2020. Absentee voting eligibility extended to individuals under physician-ordered quarantine and individuals caring for dependents under quarantine.
    Missouri 4,766,843 Gov. Mike Parson (R) signed SB631 into law, permitting any registered voter to cast an absentee ballot in any 2020 election, subject to a notarization requirement. Individuals who have contracted COVID-19, and those who are at higher risk for contracting the virus, are exempted from the notarization requirement.
    Montana 840,190 Counties authorized to send mail-in ballots automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Nebraska 1,458,334 Mail-in ballot applications sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Nevada 2,387,517 Mail-in ballots sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    New Hampshire 1,104,458 Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility in the November 3, 2020, general election extended to any voter who is unable to vote in person because of illness resulting from COVID-19 or 'who fears that voting in person may expose himself/herself or others to COVID-19.'
    New Jersey 6,943,612 Mail-in ballots sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election. Receipt deadline for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day extended to November 9, 2020. Receipt deadline for ballots without postmarks set as November 5, 2020.
    New Mexico 1,620,991 Counties authorized to send mail-in ballot applications automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, election.
    New York 15,425,262 Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility in the November 3, 2020, general election extended to any voter 'unable to appear personally at the polling place of the election district in which they are a qualified voter because there is a risk of contracting or spreading a disease causing illness to the voter or to other members of the public.' Online portal launched for absentee ballot requests in the November 3, 2020, general election. Absentee ballot return drop boxes available for the November 3, 2020, general election. Ballot curing provisions expanded.
    North Carolina 8,187,369 Witness signature requirement for completed absentee ballots reduced from two to one for 2020 elections. Absentee/mail-in ballot receipt deadline extended to 5 p.m. on November 12, 2020, for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day..
    North Dakota 581,891 N/A
    Ohio 9,111,081 Election officials required to accept absentee ballot applications submitted via fax or email.
    Oklahoma 3,004,733 Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed SB210 into law, reinstating the absentee ballot notarization requirement struck down by the state supreme court on May 4, 2020. The legislation permitted voters to submit copies of their identification in lieu of having the ballot notarized in the event of a state of emergency occurring within 45 days of an election. The legislation also specified that individuals experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19, and individuals classified as vulnerable to infection, could cast an absentee ballot under the 'physical incapacitation' eligibility criterion.
    Oregon 3,351,175 N/A
    Pennsylvania 10,167,376 Prepaid return postage provided for mail-in and absentee ballots in the November 3, 2020, general election. Absentee/mail-in ballot receipt deadline extended to November 6, 2020 (with a postmark deadline of November 3, 2020, or no proof that the ballot was sent after that date). Drop boxes for returning completed absentee/mail-in ballots authorized.
    Rhode Island 854,866 Mail-in ballot applications sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election. Witness/notary requirements for mail-in ballots suspended for the November 3, 2020, general election.
    South Carolina 4,037,531 Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility extended to all active registered voters in the November 3, 2020, general election. Prepaid postage provided for all returned ballots in the November 3, 2020, general election. In-person absentee voting (i.e., early voting) set to begin October 5, 2020, and end November 2, 2020.
    South Dakota 667,558 N/A
    Tennessee 5,319,123 Absentee/mail-in ballot eligibility in the November 3, 2020, general election extended to 'individuals with a special vulnerability to COVID-19' and 'caretakers for individuals with a special vulnerability to COVID-19.' Policy requiring that first-time voters vote in person temporarily suspended.
    Texas 21,596,071 Voters required to be notified if their absentee ballots might be rejected due to signature mismatch; officials required to give such voters a 'meaningful opportunity to cure' their ballots. Absentee/mail-in return locations limited to one per county.
    Utah 2,274,774 N/A
    Vermont 509,984 Mail-in ballots sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Virginia 6,674,671 A federal court approved a partial settlement suspending the witness requirement for absentee ballots cast in the November 3, 2020, general election. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) signed into law legislation providing for the use of drop-boxes and prepaid absentee/mail-in ballot return postage in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Washington 5,951,832 N/A
    Washington, D. C. 684,498 Absentee/mail-in ballots sent automatically to all voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    West Virginia 1,432,580 Absentee/mail-in ballot eligibility in the November 3, 2020, general election extended to all voters 'concerns about their health and safety because of COVID-19.' Secretary of State Mac Warner (R) also announced the implementation of an online absentee/mail-in ballot request portal for the general election.
    Wisconsin 4,555,837 Mail-in ballot applications sent automatically to most voters in the November 3, 2020, general election.
    Wyoming 445,025 N/A


    Permanent absentee/mail-in voting procedures

    Background

    Every state provides for some method whereby voters can cast ballots without visiting a physical polling place. The terms absentee voting, voting by mail, all-mall voting, or voting from home are sometimes used to describe these methods, which can be divided into two categories: automatic mail-in ballot systems and request-required mail-in ballot systems.

    Automatic mail-in ballot systems

    Automatic mail-in ballot systems mandate that all eligible voters receive either a ballot or ballot application by default. These are sometimes referred to as all-mail voting systems. Access to mail-in voting is not restricted to voters meeting certain eligibility criteria.

    • Automatic mail-in ballots: Officials automatically transmit mail-in ballots to all eligible voters. Voters may return these ballots by mail or by using designated deposit sites. Limited in-person voting is generally available, although the number of polling sites and terms of accessibility vary from state to state.
    • Automatic mail-in ballot applications: Officials automatically transmit mail-in ballot applications to all eligible voters. A voter must in turn submit a completed application in order to receive a ballot. The voter then returns the completed ballot by mail or by using designated deposit sites. In-person voting is widely available, but it is not necessarily the dominant means by voters cast their ballots.

    Request-required mail-in ballot systems

    Request-required mail-in ballot systems require that eligible voters initiate the process for receiving, and casting, mail-in ballots. These have traditionally been described as absentee voting systems. Access to mail-in voting may be restricted to voters meeting certain eligibility criteria.

    • No excuse required: Any voter may request a mail-in ballot. Generally, a voter must first submit an application in order to receive a ballot. The voter may then return the completed ballot by mail or by using a designated deposit site. In-person voting is dominant.
    • Excuse required: A voter must meet eligibility criteria in order to qualify for a mail-in ballot. Generally, a voter must first submit an application in order to receive a ballot. The voter may then return the completed ballot by mail or by using a designated deposit site. In-person voting is dominant.

    Permanent absentee/mail-in voting procedures by state

    The map and table below summarize existing statutory absentee/mail-in voting procedures in the states. These are the permanent rules that govern absentee/mail-in voting under normal circumstances and in the absence of temporary emergency measures, which are discussed below.

    Permanent 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 Request-required absentee/mail-in voting No excuse required.
    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 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 Request-required absentee/mail-in voting No excuse required.
    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 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 Request-required absentee/mail-in voting No excuse required.
    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.

    Support and opposition

    The following quotes briefly summarize arguments for and against no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting. See our page, Arguments for and against no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting, for detailed support and opposition arguments from a variety of sources.


    Arguments for and against no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting
    Support Opposition
    "Removing barriers to voting absentee would allow more people to vote in the manner most convenient for them. New York’s current absentee voting laws also have the potential to disproportionately benefit those with high socioeconomic status. A no-excuse absentee voting system is likely to reduce both polling site lines and the administrative burden on election officials, thereby decreasing the total cost of administering elections."

    -Jerry Goldfeder, former chair of the New York City Bar Association Election Law Committee (2018)[2]
    		 "As with Early In-Person Voting, the case has not been made that additional absentee voting actually will in itself result in a meaningful increase in voter turnout. There are also concerns that use of No-Excuse Absentee Ballots can too easily result in citizens losing their votes due to mistakes, and that they can be too easily compromised by those seeking to literally stuff the ballot box."

    -New York State Bar Association, Special Committee on Voter Participation (2013)[3][4]


    See also


    Footnotes

    1. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Absentee and Early Voting," July 30, 2019
    2. ↑ New York City Bar Association, "Improving Opportunities to Vote in New York State: Assembly Hearing," November 15, 2018
    3. ↑ New York State Bar Association, "Special Committee on Voter Participation Final Report," January 25, 2013
    4. ↑ The Special Committee on Voter Participation was created by New York State Bar Association President Seymour James to "produce a report and recommendations with regard to reforms that could enhance civic participation in New York State," James said.
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