Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility, 2022

Voting in 2022

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General information

• Poll opening and closing times
• Early voting dates
• Voter registration deadlines
• Election results certification dates
• Recount laws and procedures

Absentee/mail-in voting

• Eligibility requirements
• Request deadlines
• Return deadlines
• Signature and witness requirements
• When can states begin processing and counting ballots

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This article details each state's absentee/mail-in voting eligibility requirements for the November 8, 2022, general election. For additional information about absentee/mail-in voting, see this article.

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.

Absentee/mail-in voting procedures by state

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	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	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)	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.

See also

• Absentee/mail-in voting
• Ballotpedia's 2022 Election Help Desk: Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots