Mail-in voting is likely one of the main trendy conveniences afforded to US voters, however with Election Day only a week away, it is likely to be too late in some states to request a mail poll if you have not already.
Mail-in ballots — identified generally as “absentee ballots” — are an more and more widespread technique of voting, with the COVID-19 pandemic pushing far more folks than ever earlier than to contemplate the choice. Voting by mail had been steadily growing for years, however according to the Election Lab on the Massachusetts Institute of Know-how, it leapt from round 23 million within the 2018 midterms to 43 million throughout the 2020 presidential race after which dipped to about 32 million in 2022 midterms.
So with thousands and thousands of US residents already casting their ballots throughout early voting intervals, learn on for a breakdown of which states will nonetheless will let you request a mail poll. For extra about voting, see if there’s still time to register in your state and if early voting has started there as nicely.
The place is it too late to request a poll?
Not surprisingly, with every week left till Election Day — Nov. 5, 2024 — the deadline for requesting a mail poll has handed in a handful of states. The next record comprises the states the place, as of Tuesday, Oct. 29, all deadlines for requesting mail ballots have handed, according to Vote.org:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
One necessary factor to notice about Rhode Island: whereas Vote.org notes that its deadlines for requesting mail ballots handed three weeks previous to Election Day, the state does permit residents to request an “emergency poll.” This may be achieved at an area election workplace, however provided that they discover that they are going to be unable to make it to the polls on Election Day.
Which states nonetheless allow you to request a poll?
With every week to go till the overall election, a surprisingly massive variety of states nonetheless have choices obtainable for requesting mail-in ballots, in response to Vote.org. Be warned, although, as with such a brief window of time left, the deadlines for these remaining choices will likely be gone very quickly.
Alabama: Could be requested in particular person by Oct. 31. Mail-in voting right here is, nevertheless, restricted to folks with eligible excuses for not voting on Election Day.
Arkansas: Could be requested in particular person by Nov. 1.
Connecticut: Each mail and in-person requests could be made if acquired by the day earlier than Election Day.
Delaware: On-line and mail requests could be made in the event that they’re acquired by Nov. 1; in-person requests have to be made by 12 p.m. the day earlier than Election Day.
Idaho: In-person requests could be made till 5 p.m. on Nov. 1.
Illinois: On-line and mail requests have to be acquired by Oct. 31; in-person requests could be made till the day earlier than Election Day.
Iowa: In-person requests could be made till the day earlier than Election Day.
Louisiana: In-person, mail and on-line requests have to be made by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 1.
Maine: In-person, mail and on-line requests have to be acquired by Nov. 2.
Maryland: In-person requests could be made as late as Election Day itself.
Michigan: On-line and mail requests have to be made by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1, however at this stage, the state strongly recommends in-person requests solely. In-person requests could be made by 4 p.m. the day earlier than Election Day.
Minnesota: In-person, mail and on-line requests could be made any time previous to Election Day.
Mississippi: There are not any set deadlines for mail-in and in particular person requests, however the state strongly recommends no later than Oct. 29 for mail. Mail-in voting right here, nevertheless, is proscribed to folks with eligible excuses for not voting on Election Day.
Missouri: Requests could be made in particular person till 5 p.m. the day earlier than Election Day.
Montana: In-person and mail requests could be made till midday the day earlier than Election Day.
New Hampshire: This state has no particular deadline for in-person and mail requests, although solely folks with an eligible excuse can obtain an absentee poll.
New Jersey: In particular person requests could be made by 3 p.m. the day earlier than Election Day.
New York: In-person requests could be made till the day earlier than Election Day.
North Dakota: This state has no particular deadline for in-person or mail requests, however the latter have to be postmarked by the day earlier than Election Day.
South Carolina: Mail requests could be made till 5 p.m. on Nov. 1.
South Dakota: In-person and mail requests could be made till the day earlier than Election Day.
Virginia: In-person requests could be made till Nov. 2.
West Virginia: In-person and mail requests have to be acquired by Oct. 30.
Wisconsin: Mail and on-line requests have to be acquired by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31; in-person requests could be made till Nov. 3.
Wyoming: In-person and mail requests have to be acquired by the day earlier than Election Day.What about all-mail voting states?
Sure states — California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington — in addition to the District of Columbia, have transitioned their elections to an all-mail system. Because of this all registered voters are despatched ballots within the mail by a sure time, which they’ll select to fill out and return or select to disregard and vote in particular person. As such, deadlines for requesting ballots in these states are often not vital.
If at this stage within the election season you discover that you have not acquired a poll, maybe due to a change in tackle, it could be finest to name your native elections workplace to see what choices can be found to you.
For extra about mail voting, discover out how to track your ballot once it’s sent.