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Absentee/mail-in voting, 2024
From Ballotpedia
This article details each state's absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 5, 2024, general election.[1] For additional information about absentee/mail-in voting, see this article.
See the sections below for information on:
- Eligibility
- This section details whether a state allows all voters, or only voters meeting select eligibility criteria, to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot.
- Request deadlines
- This section outlines the deadlines by which voters must submit their requests to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot.
- Return deadlines
- This section outlines the deadlines by which voters must return their completed absentee/mail-in ballots.
- Witness requirements
- This section details signature and witness/notary requirements for absentee/mail-in ballots.
Eligibility
The table below summarizes whether voters must request to vote absentee and whether an excuse is required to vote absentee.
| 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. |
Request deadlines
The table below displays absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines for the 2024 general election.
Eight states and the District of Columbia use what is commonly referred to as all-mail voting. In these states, voting is conducted primarily, although not necessarily exclusively, by mail, and no request is required.
| Absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines for general elections, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State/Description | Election date | In-person request deadline | Online request deadline | Mail request deadline | Mail request deadline type | Source |
| Alabama | 11/5/2024 | 10/31/2024 | None | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| Alaska | 11/5/2024 | 10/26/2024 | 10/26/2024 | 10/26/2024 | Received | Source |
| Arizona | 11/5/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| Arkansas | 11/5/2024 | 11/1/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| California | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| Colorado | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| Connecticut | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Not specified | Not specified | Source | |
| District of Columbia | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| Delaware | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/1/2024 | 11/1/2024 | Received | Source |
| Florida | 11/5/2024 | 10/24/2024 | 10/24/2024 | 10/24/2024 | Received | Source |
| Georgia | 11/5/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| Georgia (Runoff) | 12/3/2024 | 11/22/2024 | 11/22/2024 | 11/22/2024 | Received | Source |
| Hawaii | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| Idaho | 11/5/2024 | 11/1/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| Illinois | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 10/31/2024 | 10/31/2024 | Received | Source |
| Indiana | 11/5/2024 | 10/24/2024 | 10/24/2024 | 10/24/2024 | Received | Source |
| Iowa | 11/5/2024 | 10/21/2024 | None | 10/21/2024 | Received | Source |
| Kansas | 11/5/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| Kentucky | 11/5/2024 | None | 10/22/2024 | None | Source | |
| Louisiana (Presidential) | 11/5/2024 | 11/1/2024 | 11/1/2024 | 11/1/2024 | Received | Source |
| Louisiana (Statewide general) | 12/7/2024 | 12/3/2024 | 12/3/2024 | 12/3/2024 | Received | Source |
| Maine | 11/5/2024 | 10/31/2024 | 10/31/2024 | 10/31/2024 | Received | Source |
| Maryland | 11/5/2024 | 11/5/2024 | 11/1/2024 | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| Massachusetts | 11/5/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| Michigan | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/1/2024 | 11/1/2024 | Received | Source |
| Minnesota | 11/5/2024 | None | 11/4/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| Mississippi | 11/5/2024 | None | None | None | Source | |
| Mississippi (Runoff) | 11/26/2024 | None | None | None | Source | |
| Missouri | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | None | 10/23/2024 | Received | Source |
| Montana | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | None | Not specified | Source | |
| Nebraska | 11/5/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| Nevada | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| New Hampshire | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | None | 11/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| New Jersey | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | None | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| New Mexico | 11/5/2024 | 10/22/2024 | 10/22/2024 | 10/22/2024 | Received | Source |
| New York | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 10/26/2024 | 10/26/2024 | Received | Source |
| North Carolina | 11/5/2024 | 10/29/2024[2] | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| North Dakota | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | Not specified | Not specified | Source | |
| Ohio | 11/5/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| Oklahoma | 11/5/2024 | 10/21/2024 | 10/21/2024 | 10/21/2024 | Received | Source |
| Oregon | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| Pennsylvania | 11/5/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| Rhode Island | 11/5/2024 | 10/15/2024 | 10/15/2024 | 10/15/2024 | Received | Source |
| South Carolina | 11/5/2024 | 10/25/2024 | None | 10/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| South Dakota | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | None | 11/4/2024 | Received | Source |
| Tennessee | 11/5/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | 10/29/2024 | Received | Source |
| Texas | 11/5/2024 | 10/25/2024 | None | 10/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| Utah | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| Vermont | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| Virginia | 11/5/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | 10/25/2024 | Received | Source |
| Washington | 11/5/2024 | All mail | All mail | All mail | Source | |
| West Virginia | 11/5/2024 | 10/30/2024 | 10/30/2024 | 10/30/2024 | Received | Source |
| Wisconsin (Spring) | 4/2/2024 | 3/31/2024 | 3/28/2024 | 3/28/2024 | Received | Source |
| Wisconsin (Fall) | 11/5/2024 | 11/3/2024 | 10/31/2024 | 10/31/2024 | Received | Source |
| Wyoming | 11/5/2024 | 11/4/2024 | None | 11/4/2024 | Received | Source |
Return deadlines
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 |
Witness requirements
According to research conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures:[3]
| Absentee/mail-in voting witness requirements by state for November 5, 2024, general election[3] | |
|---|---|
| State | Are notary or witness signatures required? |
| Alabama | "Yes; either two witnesses older than 18, or a notary public must sign the return envelope." |
| Alaska | "Yes; an attesting signature is needed by a witness older than 18 or an official authorized to administer oaths." |
| Arizona | No. |
| Arkansas | No. |
| California | No. |
| Colorado | No. |
| Connecticut | No. |
| Delaware | No. |
| District of Columbia | No. |
| Florida | No. |
| Georgia | No. |
| Hawaii | No. |
| Idaho | No. |
| Illinois | No. |
| Indiana | No. |
| Iowa | No. |
| Kansas | No. |
| Kentucky | No. |
| Louisiana | "Yes; the absentee ballot return envelope must be signed by a witness. Effective July 1, 2025, witnesses must be at least 18 years old." |
| Maine | No. |
| Maryland | No. |
| Massachusetts | No. |
| Michigan | No. |
| Minnesota | "Yes; the absentee ballot envelope must be signed by either a witness who is registered to vote in Minnesota or by a notary public or other individual authorized to administer oaths. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the witness must be at least 18 years old." |
| Mississippi | "Yes; absentee ballot envelopes must be signed by a notary public or other official authorized to administer oaths." |
| Missouri | "Yes; absentee ballot envelopes must be signed by a notary election official, or other officer authorized to administer oaths." |
| Montana | No. |
| Nebraska | No. |
| Nevada | No. |
| New Hampshire | No. |
| New Jersey | No. |
| New Mexico | No. |
| New York | No. |
| North Carolina | "Yes; absentee ballot envelopes must be signed by a notary public or by two witnesses who are at least 18 years old." |
| North Dakota | No. |
| Ohio | No. |
| Oklahoma | "Yes; absentee ballot envelopes must be notarized." |
| Oregon | No. |
| Pennsylvania | No. |
| Rhode Island | No. |
| South Carolina | "Yes; absentee ballot envelopes must be signed by the voter and a witness who is at least 18 years old. Military and overseas voters are exempt from the witness requirement." |
| South Dakota | No. |
| Tennessee | No. |
| Texas | No. |
| Utah | No. |
| Vermont | No. |
| Virginia | No. |
| Washington | No. |
| West Virginia | No. |
| Wisconsin | "Yes; absentee ballots must be signed by the voter and a witness 18 years or older." |
| Wyoming | No. |
See also
- Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility
- How does absentee/mail-in voting work?
- Absentee/mail-in voting witness requirements
- How can I check the status of my ballot?
- What happens if I vote by mail and want to change my ballot at a later date?
- What happens if someone votes by mail and then tries to vote in person?
- What happens if someone votes by absentee/mail-in ballot and dies before Election Day?
- Do absentee/mail-in ballots take longer to count than in-person ballots?
- How do states verify absentee/mail-in ballots?
- How do election workers match signatures?
- Ballot curing rules by state
- When can states begin processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots?
- Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots in the states
Footnotes
- ↑ This article includes information for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five permanently inhabited U.S. territories.
- ↑ According to NC Newsline, on October 7, 2024, "[T]he state Board of Elections adopted a host of changes meant to help voters [in the 13 counties hardest hit by Hurricane Helene]. ... Voters from these counties will be able to request absentee ballots in person at their county board of elections office up until the day before the election."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Table 14: How States Verify Voted Absentee/Mail Ballots," October 9, 2024
