How does absentee/mail-in voting work? (2022)
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Absentee/mail-in voting does not happen in person on Election Day, instead occurring another way (generally by mail). All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in voting.
This article outlines the "life cycle" of an absentee/mail-in ballot, from a voter obtaining a ballot through the final tallying and disposition of ballots. This article is divided into the following sections, each of which corresponds with a phase in the absentee/mail-in voting process:
The graphic below summarizes these phases. Additional details are available below.
Obtaining a ballot
A voter can obtain an absentee/mail-in ballot in one of two ways: by submitting a request to election officials or, in the case of states that conduct their elections predominantly by mail, automatically.
Requesting an absentee/mail-in ballot
The table below outlines absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines in each state and the District of Columbia.
States that send ballots automatically
- See also: All-mail voting
This year, eight states – California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington – will send absentee/mail-in ballots to all voters automatically, eliminating the need for submitting request or application forms.
Returning a ballot
Once a voter has received an absentee/mail-in ballot, he or she will need to return it by a fixed deadline in order to have it counted. A voter may be able to return the ballot in person or by mail. These deadlines and return options, which vary by state, are detailed in the table below.
Absentee/mail-in voting signature and witness requirements by state
Some states require voters to have their completed absentee/mail-in ballots signed by witnesses or a notary. These requirements are detailed in the table below.
Processing and counting returned ballots
Upon receiving completed absentee/mail-in ballots, election officials must first process the ballots before they can be counted. Processing generally entails verifying voter signatures and physically preparing ballots for tabulation. Processing practices can vary widely from state to state. Counting entails the actual tabulation of votes.
Verification processes
All states require voters to provide valid signatures on their absentee/mail-in ballot return documents. Twenty-seven states have statutory provisions for verifying the signatures on returned absentee/mail-in ballots. These states are identified on the map below.
Processing and counting dates
The table below details processing and counting deadlines by state.
See also
- Ballotpedia's 2022 Election Help Desk: Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots
- Do absentee/mail-in ballots take longer to count than in-person ballots? (2022)
- What happens if someone votes by mail and then tries to vote in person? (2022)
- How do states verify absentee/mail-in ballots? (2022)
- What is ballot curing? (2022)
Footnotes
