Last updated: January 10, 2026

Election deadlines

If you are submitting a form or ballot by mail, VoteAmerica recommends sending it 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.

State	Voter registration deadlines	Absentee and mail ballot request deadlines	Absentee and mail ballot return deadlines	Early voting dates
Alabama	In person: 15 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day Online: 15 days before Election Day Register to vote in Alabama	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 5 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Alabama	By mail: Received by Election Day at 12PM In person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day	Early voting starts: N/A Early voting ends: N/A
Alaska	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: 30 days before Election Day Register to vote in Alaska	By mail: Received by 10 days before Election Day In person: 10 days before Election Day Online: 10 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Alaska	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 15 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Arizona	In person: 29 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 29 days before Election Day Online: 29 days before Election Day Register to vote in Arizona	By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day In person: 11 days before Election Day Online: 11 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Arizona	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 27 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
Arkansas	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: N/A Register to vote in Arkansas	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 4 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Arkansas	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by 4 days BEFORE Election Day	Early voting starts: 15 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
California	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day Online: 15 days before Election Day Register to vote in California	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in California	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 29 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Colorado	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 8 days before Election Day Online: 8 days before Election Day Register to vote in Colorado	By mail: N/A In person: N/A Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Colorado	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 15 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Connecticut	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 18 days before Election Day Online: 18 days before Election Day Register to vote in Connecticut	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: 1 day before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Connecticut	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day	Early voting starts: 15 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
Delaware	In person: 24 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 24 days before Election Day Online: 24 days before Election Day Register to vote in Delaware	By mail: Received by 4 days before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day at 12PM Online: 4 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Delaware	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: At least 10 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
District of Columbia	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in District of Columbia	By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day In person: 15 days before Election Day Online: 15 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in District of Columbia	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 8 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
Florida	In person: 29 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 29 days before Election Day Online: 29 days before Election Day Register to vote in Florida	By mail: Received by 12 days before Election Day In person: 12 days before Election Day Online: 12 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Florida	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 10 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
Georgia	In person: 29 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 29 days before Election Day Online: 29 days before Election Day Register to vote in Georgia	By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day In person: 11 days before Election Day Online: 11 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Georgia	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election day	Early voting starts: 21 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
Hawaii	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 10 days before Election Day Online: Election Day Register to vote in Hawaii	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 7 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Hawaii	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 10 business days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Idaho	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day 5PM Online: 11 days before Election Day at 5PM Register to vote in Idaho	By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day In person: 11 days before Election Day Online: 11 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Idaho	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 21 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
Illinois	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 28 days before Election Day Online: 16 days before Election Day Register to vote in Illinois	By mail: Received by 5 days before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: 5 days before Election Day (only available in certain municipalities) Request your absentee or mail ballot in Illinois	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 40 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Indiana	In person: 29 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 29 days before Election Day Online: 29 days before Election Day Register to vote in Indiana	By mail: Received by 12 days before Election Day In person: 12 days before Election Day Online: 12 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Indiana	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day at 6PM	Early voting starts: 28 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day at 12PM
Iowa	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day Online: 15 days before Election Day Register to vote in Iowa	By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day In person: 15 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Iowa	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 20 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Kansas	In person: 21 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in Kansas	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 7 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Kansas	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 20 days before the election Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day at 12PM
Kentucky	In person: 29 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 29 days before Election Day Online: 29 days before Election Day Register to vote in Kentucky	By mail: N/A In person: 14 days before Election Day Online: 14 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Kentucky	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 5 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
Louisiana	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in Louisiana	By mail: Received by 4 days before Election Day In person: 4 days before Election Day Online: 4 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Louisiana	By mail: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day In person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day at 4:30PM	Early voting starts: 18 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 7 days before Election Day
Maine	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in Maine	By mail: Received by 5 days before Election Day In person: 5 days before Election Day Online: 5 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Maine	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 30 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 5 days before Election Day
Maryland	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in Maryland	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: Election Day Online: 7 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Maryland	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 12 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 5 days before Election Day
Massachusetts	In person: 10 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 10 days before Election Day Online: 10 days before Election Day Register to vote in Massachusetts	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 7 days before Election Day Online: 7 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Massachusetts	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 17 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
Michigan	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day Online: 15 days before Election Day Register to vote in Michigan	By mail: Received by 4 days before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: 4 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Michigan	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 10 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
Minnesota	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in Minnesota	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: 1 day before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Minnesota	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day at 3PM	Early voting starts: 46 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Mississippi	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: N/A Register to vote in Mississippi	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day In person: No specified deadline Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Mississippi	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: You cannot hand-deliver your mail-in ballot in Mississippi. You must put your voted ballot in the mailbox.	Early voting starts: N/A Early voting ends: N/A
Missouri	In person: 27 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 27 days before Election Day Online: 27 days before Election Day Register to vote in Missouri	By mail: Received by 13 days before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Missouri	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 14 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Montana	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: N/A Register to vote in Montana	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day at 12PM In person: 1 day before Election Day at 12PM Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Montana	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 30 days before the election Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Nebraska	In person: 11 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 18 days before Election Day Online: 18 days before Election Day Register to vote in Nebraska	By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day In person: 11 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Nebraska	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 30 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Nevada	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 28 days before Election Day Online: Election Day Register to vote in Nevada	By mail: Received by 14 days before Election Day In person: 14 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Nevada	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 17 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
New Hampshire	In person: Election Day By mail: 6-13 days before Election Day (this varies by township, so please contact your election clerk) Online: N/A Register to vote in New Hampshire	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day at 12PM In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in New Hampshire	By mail: Received by Election Day at 5PM In person: Received by 5PM 1 day before Election Day	Early voting starts: N/A Early voting ends: N/A
New Jersey	In person: 21 days before Election Day By mail: Received by 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in New Jersey	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day at 3PM Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in New Jersey	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 10 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
New Mexico	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 28 days before Election Day Online: 28 days before Election Day Register to vote in New Mexico	By mail: Received by 14 days before Election Day In person: 14 days before Election Day Online: 14 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in New Mexico	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 28 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
New York	In person: 10 days before Election Day By mail: Received by 10 days before Election Day Online: 10 days before Election Day Register to vote in New York	By mail: Received by 10 days before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: 10 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in New York	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 10 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
North Carolina	In person: 3 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 25 days before Election Day Online: 25 days before Election Day Register to vote in North Carolina	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 7 days before Election Day Online: 7 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in North Carolina	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 19 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day at 3PM
North Dakota	In person: N/A By mail: N/A Online: N/A Register to vote in North Dakota	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in North Dakota	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day at 5PM	Early voting starts: Varies by county Early voting ends: Varies by county
Ohio	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: 30 days before Election Day Register to vote in Ohio	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 7 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Ohio	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 28 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
Oklahoma	In person: 25 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 25 days before Election Day Online: 25 days before Election Day Register to vote in Oklahoma	By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day In person: 15 days before Election Day Online: 15 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Oklahoma	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day at 5PM	Early voting starts: 6 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day at 2PM
Oregon	In person: 21 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in Oregon	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Oregon	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: N/A Early voting ends: N/A
Pennsylvania	In person: 15 days before Election Day By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day Online: 15 days before Election Day Register to vote in Pennsylvania	By mail: Received by 7 days before Election Day In person: 7 days before Election Day Online: 7 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Pennsylvania	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: Varies by county Early voting ends: 7 days before Election Day
Rhode Island	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: 30 days before Election Day Register to vote in Rhode Island	By mail: Received by 21 days before Election Day In person: 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Rhode Island	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 20 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
South Carolina	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: 30 days before Election Day Register to vote in South Carolina	By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day In person: 11 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in South Carolina	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 15 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
South Dakota	In person: 15 days before Election Day By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day Online: N/A Register to vote in South Dakota	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in South Dakota	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 46 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Tennessee	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: 30 days before Election Day Register to vote in Tennessee	By mail: Received by 10 days before Election Day In person: 10 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Tennessee	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: You cannot hand-deliver your mail-in ballot in Tennessee. You must put your voted ballot in the mailbox.	Early voting starts: 20 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 5 days before Election Day
Texas	In person: 30 days before Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day Online: 30 days before Election Day (Note: Online registration is not available to first-time voters in TX) Register to vote in Texas	By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day In person: 11 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Texas	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 17 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
Utah	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day Online: 11 days before Election Day Register to vote in Utah	By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day In person: 11 days before Election Day Online: 11 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Utah	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 14 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
Vermont	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 4 days before Election Day Online: 4 days before Election Day Register to vote in Vermont	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: 1 day before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Vermont	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 45 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Virginia	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 10 days before election Online: 10 days before Election Day Register to vote in Virginia	By mail: Received by 11 days before Election Day In person: 11 days before Election Day Online: 11 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Virginia	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 45 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
Washington	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 8 days before Election Day Online: 8 days before Election Day Register to vote in Washington	By mail: Received by 8 days before Election Day In person: 8 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Washington	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 18 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
West Virginia	In person: 21 days before Election Day By mail: Received by 21 days before Election Day Online: 21 days before Election Day Register to vote in West Virginia	By mail: Received by 6 days before Election Day In person: 6 days before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in West Virginia	By mail: Postmarked by Election Day In person: Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day	Early voting starts: 13 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
Wisconsin	In person: Election Day By mail: Postmarked by 20 days before Election Day Online: 20 days before Election Day Register to vote in Wisconsin	By mail: Received by 5 days before Election Day In person: Varies by municipality. Please contact your Wisconsin clerk to find out more. Click here to find their contact information Online: 5 days before Election Day Request your absentee or mail ballot in Wisconsin	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: Varies by municipality Early voting ends: Varies by municipality
Wyoming	In person: Election Day By mail: Received by 15 days before Election Day Online: N/A Register to vote in Wyoming	By mail: Received by 1 day before Election Day In person: 1 day before Election Day Online: N/A Request your absentee or mail ballot in Wyoming	By mail: Received by Election Day In person: Received by Election Day	Early voting starts: 28 days before Election Day Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day