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Absentee and mail ballot deadlines

Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straightforward.

  • Request your ballot by the deadline
  • Receive your ballot in the mail
  • Return your ballot by the deadline

If you are returning your ballot by mail, VoteAmerica recommends sending it back at least one week before the deadline to ensure it arrives on time. This applies even if your state's deadline is based on the postmark date, because the U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee a postmark will be applied the day you drop off your mail. Learn more.

If anything on this page is incorrect, please fill out this form.

Alabama
  • In person: 5 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day at 12PM
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Alabama
Alaska
  • In person: 10 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 10 days before Election Day
  • Online: 10 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Alaska
Arizona
  • In person: 11 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: 11 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Arizona
Arkansas
  • In person: 4 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by 4 days BEFORE Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Arkansas
California
  • In person: Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in California
Colorado
  • In person: N/A
  • By mail: N/A
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Colorado
Connecticut
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day
  • Online: 1 day before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Connecticut
Delaware
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day at 12PM
  • By mail: Received by 4 days before Election Day
  • Online: 4 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Delaware
District of Columbia
  • In person: 15 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day
  • Online: 15 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in District of Columbia
Florida
  • In person: 12 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 12 days before Election Day
  • Online: 12 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Florida
Georgia
  • In person: 11 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: 11 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Georgia
Hawaii
  • In person: 7 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Hawaii
Idaho
  • In person: 11 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: 11 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Idaho
Illinois
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 5 days before Election Day
  • Online: 5 days before Election Day (only available in certain municipalities)
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Illinois
Indiana
  • In person: 12 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 12 days before Election Day
  • Online: 12 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day at 6PM
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Indiana
Iowa
  • In person: 15 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Iowa
Kansas
  • In person: 7 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day at 7pm
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Kansas
Kentucky
  • In person: 14 days before Election Day
  • By mail: N/A
  • Online: 14 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Kentucky
Louisiana
  • In person: 4 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 4 days before Election Day
  • Online: 4 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day at 4:30PM
  • Returned by mail: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Louisiana
Maine
  • In person: 5 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 5 days before Election Day
  • Online: 5 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Maine
Maryland
  • In person: Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: 7 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Maryland
Massachusetts
  • In person: 7 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: 7 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Massachusetts
Michigan
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 4 days before Election Day
  • Online: 4 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Michigan
Minnesota
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day
  • Online: 1 day before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day at 5PM
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Minnesota
Mississippi
  • In person: No specified deadline
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: You cannot hand-deliver your mail-in ballot in Mississippi. You must put your voted ballot in the mailbox.
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Mississippi
Missouri
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 13 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Missouri
Montana
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day at 12PM
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day at 12PM
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Montana
Nebraska
  • In person: 11 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Nebraska
Nevada
  • In person: 14 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 14 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Nevada
New Hampshire
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day at 12PM
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by 5PM 1 day before Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day at 5PM
Request your absentee or mail ballot in New Hampshire
New Jersey
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day at 3PM
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in New Jersey
New Mexico
  • In person: 14 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 14 days before Election Day
  • Online: 14 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in New Mexico
New York
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 10 days before Election Day
  • Online: 10 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in New York
North Carolina
  • In person: 7 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: 7 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in North Carolina
North Dakota
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in North Dakota
Ohio
  • In person: 7 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Ohio
Oklahoma
  • In person: 15 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day
  • Online: 15 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day at 5PM
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Oklahoma
Oregon
  • In person: Election Day
  • By mail: Received by Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Oregon
Pennsylvania
  • In person: 7 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day
  • Online: 7 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
  • In person: 21 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 21 days before Election Day
  • Online: 21 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Rhode Island
South Carolina
  • In person: 11 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in South Carolina
South Dakota
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in South Dakota
Tennessee
  • In person: 10 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 10 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: You cannot hand-deliver your mail-in ballot in Tennessee. You must put your voted ballot in the mailbox.
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Tennessee
Texas
  • In person: 11 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Texas
Utah
  • In person: 11 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: 11 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day at 8pm
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day at 8pm
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Utah
Vermont
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day
  • Online: 1 day before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Vermont
Virginia
  • In person: 11 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day
  • Online: 11 days before Election Day
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Virginia
Washington
  • In person: 8 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 8 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Washington
West Virginia
  • In person: 6 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 6 days before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in West Virginia
Wisconsin
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Wisconsin
Wyoming
  • In person: 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day
  • Online: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Wyoming