Election day resource guide, 2020
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| Absentee/mail-in voting analysis Mail-in voting by state, 2016-2018 Mail-in rejection by state, 2016-2018 Uncalled races, 2018 When can states begin counting? Processing, counting, and challenging ballots | |
| Voting in 2020 Absentee/mail-in voting • Early voting • Voter ID Poll opening and closing times Recount laws by state Recount margin requirements by state U.S. Supreme Court actions | |
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The 2020 election took place against a backdrop of uncertainty. Our readers had questions about what to expect in elections at all levels of government, from the casting of ballots to the certification of final results. Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk was designed to answer those questions.
This article summarizes key information about the voting process in the 2020 general election. It is separated into three broad topics:
- What to know about in-person voting
- Voter ID, Early voting start date, Early voting end date, Election Day poll times, Same-day voter registration
- What to know about mail voting
- Eligibility limits, In-person return deadline, Mail return deadline, Return postmark or receipt deadline, Notary/witness requirements, Ballot tracking tools
- What to know about processing and counting votes
- Mail ballot processing start date, Mail ballot counting start date, Result certification date
Click a state on the map below to learn more about voting laws and procedures in that state.
What to know about in-person voting
The table below provides the following information about in-person voting:
- Whether you need identification to vote
- When early voting starts
- When early voting ends
- When polls are open on Election Day
- Whether the state allows same-day voter registration
| November 2020 in-person voting rules | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Voter ID | Early voting start | Early voting end | Election Day poll times | Same-day voter registration |
| Alabama | Yes | -- | -- | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Alaska | Yes | Oct 19 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | No |
| Arizona | Yes | Oct 7 | Oct 30 | 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Arkansas | Yes | Oct 19 | Nov 2 | 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | No |
| California | No | Oct 5 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes | Oct 19 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Yes |
| Connecticut | Yes | -- | -- | 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Election Day only |
| Delaware | Yes | -- | -- | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | No |
| District of Columbia | No | Oct 27 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| Florida | Yes | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Georgia | Yes | Oct 12 | Oct 30 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Hawaii | No | Oct 20 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Yes |
| Idaho | Yes | Oct 19 | Oct 30 | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Election Day only |
| Illinois | No | Sep 24 | Nov 2 | 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes | Oct 6 | Nov 2 | 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. | No |
| Iowa | Yes | Oct 5 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes | Oct 14 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Kentucky | Yes | Oct 13 | Nov 2 | 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. | No |
| Louisiana | Yes | Oct 16 | Oct 27 | 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. | No |
| Maine | No | Oct 5 | Oct 30 | 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| Maryland | No | Oct 26 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| Massachusetts | No | Oct 17 | Oct 30 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | No |
| Michigan | Yes | Sep 24 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| Minnesota | No | Sep 18 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| Mississippi | Yes | -- | -- | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Missouri | Yes | -- | -- | 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Montana | Yes | Oct 2 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| Nebraska | No | Oct 5 | Nov 2 | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central time zone); 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain time zone) | No |
| Nevada | No | Oct 17 | Oct 30 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes | -- | -- | Varies by municipality | Election Day only |
| New Jersey | No | -- | -- | 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. | No |
| New Mexico | No | Oct 17 | Oct 31 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Early voting only |
| New York | No | Oct 24 | Nov 1 | 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. | No |
| North Carolina | No | Oct 15 | Oct 31 | 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Early voting only |
| North Dakota | Yes | Oct 19 | Nov 2 | Open between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.; close between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | No |
| Ohio | Yes | Oct 6 | Nov 2 | 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | No |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Oct 29 | Oct 31 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Oregon | No | -- | -- | No polling hours (vote-by-mail) | No |
| Pennsylvania | No | Sep 28 | Oct 27 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | No |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Oct 14 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Election Day only |
| South Carolina | Yes | Oct 5 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| South Dakota | Yes | Sep 18 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Tennessee | Yes | Oct 14 | Oct 29 | Varies by county | No |
| Texas | Yes | Oct 13 | Oct 30 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Utah | Yes | Oct 20 | Oct 30 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Yes |
| Vermont | No | Sep 21 | Nov 2 | Open between 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.; close at 7 p.m. | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes | Sep 18 | Oct 31 | 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. | No |
| Washington | No | Oct 16 | Nov 2 | Poll opening hours vary; close at 8 p.m. | Yes |
| West Virginia | Yes | Oct 21 | Oct 31 | 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | No |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Election Day only |
| Wyoming | No | Sep 18 | Nov 2 | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Yes |
What to know about mail voting
The table below provides the following information about absentee/mail-in voting:
- Are there eligibility limits for voting absentee?
- The in-person return deadline
- The mail return deadline
- Whether the mail return deadline is a postmark or receipt deadline
- Whether a ballot must be notarized or witnessed
- Where you can track your mail ballot
| November 2020 absentee voting rules | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Are there eligibility limits? | In-person return deadline | Mail return deadline | Postmark or receipt deadline? | Notary or witness requirements | Mail ballot tracking tools | |
| Alabama | No | Nov 2 | Nov 2 | Postmarked | Notary or witness | Link | |
| Alaska | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Arizona | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Arkansas | No | Nov 2 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| California | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Colorado | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Connecticut | No | Nov 2 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Delaware | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| District of Columbia | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Florida | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Georgia | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Hawaii | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Idaho | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Illinois | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | No statewide ballot tracking. Check with your local elections office. | |
| Indiana | Yes | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Iowa | No | Nov 3 | Nov 2 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Kansas | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Kentucky | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Louisiana | Yes | Nov 2 | Nov 2 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Maine | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Maryland | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Massachusetts | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Michigan | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Minnesota | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Mississippi | Yes | -- | Nov 3 | Postmarked | Notary or witness | No statewide ballot tracking. Check with your local elections office. | |
| Missouri | No | -- | Nov 3 | Received | Notary only | No statewide ballot tracking. Check with your local elections office. | |
| Montana | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Nebraska | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Nevada | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| New Hampshire | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| New Jersey | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| New Mexico | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| New York | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Ballot tracking available for military and overseas voters. Others should check with their local elections office. | |
| North Carolina | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | Witness only | Link | |
| North Dakota | No | Nov 2 | Nov 2 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Ohio | No | Nov 3 | Nov 2 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Oklahoma | No | Nov 2 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Oregon | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Pennsylvania | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Rhode Island | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| South Carolina | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | Witness only | Link | |
| South Dakota | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Tennessee | Yes | -- | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Texas | Yes | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Ballot tracking available for military and overseas voters. Others should check with their local elections office. | |
| Utah | No | Nov 3 | Nov 2 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Vermont | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | Link | |
| Virginia | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Washington | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| West Virginia | No | Nov 2 | Nov 3 | Postmarked | No requirement | Link | |
| Wisconsin | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | Notary or witness | Link | |
| Wyoming | No | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Received | No requirement | No statewide ballot tracking. Check with your local elections office. | |
What to know about processing and counting votes
The table below provides the following information about processing and counting votes:
- The processing start date for mail ballots
- The counting start date for mail ballots
- When results will be certified in the state
| November 2020 processing and counting votes rules | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Processing start date | Counting start date | Result certification date |
| Alabama | 12 p.m., Nov 3 | 7 a.m., Nov 3 | Nov 25 |
| Alaska | Oct 27 | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 25 |
| Arizona | Oct 20 | Oct 20 | Nov 30 |
| Arkansas | Oct 27 | 8:30 a.m., Nov 3 | Nov 18 |
| California | Oct 5 | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Dec 11 |
| Colorado | Upon receipt | Oct 19 | Nov 30 |
| Connecticut | Oct 27 | Nov 3 | Dec 3 |
| Delaware | Oct 30 | Oct 30 | Nov 5 |
| District of Columbia | Not specified | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 24 |
| Florida | Oct 12 | Oct 12 | Nov 17 |
| Georgia | Upon receipt | 7 a.m., Nov 3 | Nov 20 |
| Hawaii | Upon receipt | Oct 24 | Not specified |
| Idaho | Upon receipt | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 18 |
| Illinois | Within 2 days of receipt | 7 p.m., Nov 3 | Dec 4 |
| Indiana | Upon receipt | 12 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 24 |
| Iowa | Nov 2 | Nov 3 | Nov 30 |
| Kansas | Not specified | Not specified | Dec 1 |
| Kentucky | Sep 21 | Not specified | Nov 23 |
| Louisiana | Not specified | Not specified | Nov 10 |
| Maine | Oct 30 | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 23 |
| Maryland | Not specified | Oct 1 | Dec 8 |
| Massachusetts | Upon receipt | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 18 |
| Michigan | Nov 2 | Nov 3 | Nov 23 |
| Minnesota | Oct 27 | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 24 |
| Mississippi | 7 a.m., Nov 3 | 7 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 13 |
| Missouri | Oct 29 | 7 p.m., Nov 3 | Dec 8 |
| Montana | Upon receipt | Nov 2 | Nov 30 |
| Nebraska | Oct 26 | 8 a.m. Central, 7 a.m. Mountain; Nov 2 | Nov 30 |
| Nevada | Upon receipt | Oct 19 | Dec 1 |
| New Hampshire | 1 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Not specified |
| New Jersey | Upon receipt | Oct 24 | Dec 8 |
| New Mexico | Oct 20 or Oct 30 (depending on number of ballots) | 7 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 24 |
| New York | Upon receipt | Nov 6 | Dec 7 |
| North Carolina | Not specified | Oct 20 | Nov 24 |
| North Dakota | Nov 2 | Nov 3 | Nov 20 |
| Ohio | Not specified | Not specified | Nov 24 |
| Oklahoma | Not specified | Not specified | Nov 10 |
| Oregon | Oct 27 | Oct 27 | Dec 3 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 a.m., Nov 3 | 7 a.m., Nov 3 | Nov 23 |
| Rhode Island | Oct 20 | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Not specified |
| South Carolina | 7 a.m., Nov 1 | 7 a.m., Nov 3 | Nov 11 |
| South Dakota | Not specified | 7 p.m., Nov 3 | Nov 10 |
| Tennessee | Upon receipt | Nov 3 | Not specified |
| Texas | Upon receipt | Nov 3 | Dec 3 |
| Utah | Not specified | Not specified | Nov 23 |
| Vermont | Nov 2 | Nov 2 | Nov 10 |
| Virginia | Not specified | Nov 3 | Nov 10 |
| Washington | Upon receipt | 8 p.m., Nov 3 | Dec 3 |
| West Virginia | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Dec 3 |
| Wisconsin | 7 a.m., Nov 3 | 7 a.m., Nov 3 | Dec 1 |
| Wyoming | Nov 3 | Nov 3 | Nov 11 |
See also
- Election results, 2020
- Voting in 2020
- Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk
- General election information
- Presidential election
- Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots
- Election result reporting and certification
- Disputing election results
- Transitions of power and taking office
Footnotes
