How to vote by mail or absentee

Who may vote by mail

Rules fall into three broad groups. Some states mail a ballot to every registered voter. Some allow any registered voter to request one without giving a reason. Some require an excuse, such as illness, disability, absence from the jurisdiction, or age. Which group your state is in decides everything that follows, so start with the official page for your jurisdiction.

The request

Request as early as your state allows. A request usually asks for your name, address, and a signature that election officials will compare against the one on file. Some states let you request once and receive a ballot for every election, and some require a new request each cycle.

Delivery and the envelope

When the ballot arrives, read the envelope instructions before you mark anything. The envelope is where most problems happen.

• Sign exactly where the envelope asks, and use the name on your registration.
• Check whether your state requires a witness signature or a notary.
• Check whether the ballot must go inside a secrecy sleeve before the outer envelope.
• Do not sign for someone else, even a family member.

The return

Confirm which return methods your jurisdiction accepts. Common options are United States Postal Service mail, an official drop box, and hand delivery to an election office or polling place. If you mail it, mail it early. Postal delivery time is not guaranteed, and a stamp does not fix a received-by deadline.

Tracking and curing

Many states run a ballot tracking system that shows when your ballot was sent, received, and accepted. If a signature does not match or a required field is blank, some states must notify you and give you a set period to cure the problem. Watch for that notice, because the cure deadline is often only a few days.

If your ballot does not arrive

Contact your election office rather than waiting. Depending on the state you may be issued a replacement, or you may be able to vote in person and have the mail ballot cancelled or set aside. Voting in person after receiving a mail ballot sometimes results in a provisional ballot.

Military and overseas voters

If you are a service member, a family member stationed with them, or a citizen living abroad, use the federal absentee process rather than the standard state request. See our military and overseas voting guide.

Questions worth asking your election office

• What is the request deadline, and what is the return deadline?
• Does this state count a postmark, or must the ballot be received by a specific time?
• Does my ballot require a witness or notary signature?
• If my signature does not match, will I be notified, and how long do I have to fix it?
• Where are the official drop boxes, and when do they close?