How does absentee/mail-in voting work? (2024)

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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.

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:

• Obtaining a ballot
• Returning a ballot
• Processing and counting returned ballots

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

See also: Absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines, 2024

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	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

States that send ballots automatically

See also: All-mail voting

In 2024, eight states – California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington – conducted all-mail elections, where voting is conducted primarily, although not exclusively, by mail.

Returning a ballot

See also: Absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines, 2024

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 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

Absentee/mail-in voting witness requirements by state

Some states require voters to have their completed absentee/mail-in ballots signed by witnesses or a notary.

• Absentee/mail-in voting witness requirements by state (click to view table)

  According to research conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures:

  Absentee/mail-in voting witness requirements by state for November 5, 2024, general election
  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.

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

See also: How do states verify absentee/mail-in ballots? (2024)

The map below identifies the states requiring signature matching and allowing for remedying mismatches, those requiring signature matching and not allowing for remedying mismatches, and those that not requiring signature matching.

• Signature verification requirements by state (click to view map)

Processing and counting dates

The table below details processing and counting deadlines by state.

• Processing and counting dates by state (click to view table)
  According to research conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures:

  When Absentee/Mail Ballot Processing and Counting Can Begin
  State	When Absentee/Mail Ballot Processing Can Begin	When Absentee/Mail Ballot Counting Can Begin
  Alabama	7 a.m. on Election Day.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Alaska	Seven days before Election Day.	8 p.m. on Election Day.
  Arizona	Upon receipt.	Tallying can begin immediately after processing, but results may not be released before all precincts have reported or one hour after the close of polls on Election Day. Releasing information earlier is a felony.
  Arkansas	Seven days before Election Day.	8:30 a.m. on Election Day, but results are not reported until after the polls close on Election Day.
  California	Twenty-nine days before Election Day.	A vote count can be accessed or released at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
  Colorado	Upon receipt.	Fifteen days before Election Day, but the count cannot be released until after 7 p.m. on Election Day.
  Connecticut	At the discretion of the local registrar of voters.	At the discretion of the local registrar of voters.
  Delaware	Thirty days before Election Day.	Tabulation scanning can begin when processing is complete.
  District of Columbia	Signatures can be verified and the secrecy envelope removed prior to tabulation. Exact timing not specified.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Florida	Upon receipt.	Upon the completion of the public testing of automatic tabulating equipment (which begins not more than 25 days before early voting commences). Releasing the results early is a felony.
  Georgia	Signature verification conducted upon receipt, and further processing can begin at 8 a.m. on the third Monday before Election Day.	7 a.m. on Election Day.
  Hawaii	Signature verification conducted upon receipt, and further processing can begin eighteen days before Election Day.	Eighteen days before Election Day, but results cannot be disclosed until after the polls close on Election Day.
  Idaho	Signature verification conducted upon receipt. Ballots are not opened until they are delivered to the polls or central location for counting.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Illinois	Signature verification must begin within two days of receipt.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Indiana	Upon receipt.	Depending upon the county, 6 a.m. on Election Day or immediately after the electronic poll books used at each polling place or vote center have been updated to indicate the county received the absentee ballot.
  Iowa	The day before Election Day if directed by the commissioner to do so.	On Election Day, at a time set by the election commissioner to allow a reasonable amount of time to complete the count of absentee ballots by 10 p.m. on Election Day. The commissioner may also choose to convene the board the day before the election.
  Kansas	Prior to Election Day. Exact timing not specified.	Ballots may be counted prior to Election Day, but final tabulation shall not be completed until Election Day.
  Kentucky	May begin 14 days before Election Day and must start by 8 a.m. on Election Day.	8 a.m. on Election Day. Explicitly prohibits the release of results before 6 p.m.
  Louisiana	Parishes with more than 1,000 absentee ballots may begin three days before Election Day with written approval of the secretary of state, or one day before Election Day without. Parishes with fewer than 1,000 absentee ballots may begin prior to the close of polls on Election Day.	Counting may begin before the polls close on Election Day, but no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.
  Maine	Seven days before Election Day if notice of processing times is posted at least 30 days before the election.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Maryland	Eight business days before the first day of early voting.	When polls open on Election Day. Vote totals cannot be released until polls close on Election Day.
  Massachusetts	Upon receipt.	On Election Day and no later than an hour after the polls close.
  Michigan	Jurisdictions with at least 5,000 people may begin processing 8 days before election day, and other jurisdictions may begin the Monday before election day.	At 7 a.m. on Election Day. Anyone with access to absentee ballot counting must sign an oath that information related to processing and tallying will not be communicated in any way until after the polls close.
  Minnesota	Verification upon receipt. After the close of business on the 19th day before the election, verified ballots can be opened and deposited in a ballot box.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Mississippi	On Election Day when polls open.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Missouri	Five days before Election Day.	On Election Day.
  Montana	Signature verification conducted upon receipt. Three business days before Election Day, election officials may open the secrecy envelope and place the ballot in a secured ballot box until tabulation occurs.	One day before Election Day, if using a vote-counting machine. Tabulation using a manual count may not begin until Election Day. Access to an electronic system containing early tabulation results is limited to the election administrator and the election administrator’s designee.
  Nebraska	Verification can begin the second Friday before Election Day. If approved, the envelope can be opened, the ballot unfolded and flattened and placed in a sealed container.	Twenty-four hours before the opening of the polls. No results shall be released until after polls close on Election Day.
  Nevada	Signature verification conducted upon receipt.	Fifteen days before Election Day, and counting must be completed by the seventh day after the election. Results may not be reported until the close of the polls.
  New Hampshire	At 1 p.m. on Election Day, unless a different time, no earlier than two hours after the opening of the polls, is posted and announced.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  New Jersey	Signature verification conducted upon receipt. The inner envelopes cannot be opened until Election Day.	Five days before Election Day; explicitly prohibits the release of results before polls close.
  New Mexico	Any time after mailed ballots have been sent until the fifth day before the election, the county clerk may convene an election board to verify returned mail ballots. If more than 10,000 absentee ballots are sent, they may be opened and inserted into an electronic voting machine two weeks before Election Day. If fewer than 10,000 absentee ballots are sent, they may be opened and inserted into an electronic voting machine five days before the election.	Absentee ballots are inserted into vote-counting machines before Election Day, but votes are not counted until after the polls close. It is unlawful for a person to disclose the results of a count prior to the close of the polls or the deadline for receiving mailed ballots.
  New York	Verification within four days of receipt. Ballots are placed in counting machines and scanned the day before the first day of early voting.	One hour before the polls close on Election Day, but results cannot be released until the close of polls on Election Day.
  North Carolina	At county board of elections meetings, beginning the fifth Tuesday before Election Day. Counties using optical scan devices may remove ballots from their envelopes and place them in tabulators.	5 p.m. on Election Day, unless a resolution is adopted at least two weeks before the election to allow counting for all absentee ballots to begin at 2 p.m. on Election Day. Results shall not be announced before 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
  North Dakota	Three business days before Election Day.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Ohio	Processing, including using automatic tabulating equipment to scan ballots, may begin before the time for counting ballots at a time determined by the board of elections. Exact timing not specified.	Exact timing not specified, but the count may not be disclosed prior to the close of the polls.
  Oklahoma	10 a.m. on the Thursday before Election Day, or earlier with approval by the secretary of the state election board.	On Election Day or prior to Election Day with approval by the secretary of the state election board. When counting occurs before Election Day, the county election board shall remove the election results storage media from the voting device, without obtaining a printout of results, and seal ballots counted that day in a transfer case secured by the sheriff until the time the board next meets to count. Results cannot be reported earlier than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
  Oregon	Upon receipt.	Results may not be made public until after 8 p.m. on Election Day.
  Pennsylvania	7 a.m. on Election Day.	At 7 a.m. on Election Day, but the votes may not be recorded or published until after the polls close.
  Rhode Island	Twenty days before Election Day.	8 p.m. on Election Day.
  South Carolina	7 a.m. two days before Election Day.	7 a.m. on Election Day. Results may not be reported until after the polls close.
  South Dakota	On Election Day prior to the close of the polls.	After the polls close on Election Day.
  Tennessee	Signature verification conducted upon receipt.	On Election Day after the polls open and no later than four hours before closing for general elections, or two hours before closing for all other elections.
  Texas	No more than 20 days before Election Day.	When the polls open on Election Day. In a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 people, counting can begin at the end of the early in-person voting period.
  Utah	Processing may begin before Election Day. Exact timing not specified.	Counting may begin before Election Day. Exact timing not specified. Results may not be reported until after the polls close on Election Day.
  Vermont	Ballots may be deposited into the vote tabulator 30 days before Election Day, if the board of civil authority votes to do so.	At the close of polls on Election Day.
  Virginia	Upon receipt.	At the close of polls on Election Day, but ballots may be inserted into ballot-counting machines prior to the closing of the polls. If absentee ballots are counted by hand, tallying may begin after noon on Election Day. Vote counts may not be reported until after the polls close.
  Washington	Upon receipt.	8 p.m. on Election Day. No person may divulge any results of the count prior to 8 p.m. on Election Day. A violation is a misdemeanor.
  West Virginia	Absentee ballots are delivered to precincts on Election Day.	On Election Day. Results may not be disclosed until the polls close and precinct returns are posted on the door of polling places; to do so is a violation of the oath taken by the counting board.
  Wisconsin	After the polls open on Election Day.	After the polls open on Election Day.
  Wyoming	The Thursday or Friday preceding Election Day.	On Election Day.

See also

• Absentee/mail-in voting
• Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility
• 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