Voting by mail is one of the major modern conveniences offered to American voters, but as Election Day approaches, some states still allow you to request and vote by mail today. You can.
Voting by mail (also known as “absentee voting”) has become increasingly common since the COVID-19 pandemic caused far more people than ever to consider this option. It is a voting method. Although voting by mail has steadily increased in recent years, According to Election Lab At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, there were about 23 million people in the 2018 midterm elections, which jumped to 43 million in the 2020 presidential election, and then dropped to about 32 million in the 2022 midterm elections.
So, with millions of Americans currently voting, read on for a breakdown of which states are allowing you to request a mail-in ballot. For more information on voting, see if there’s still time to register in your state.
Where is it too late to request a ballot?
Unsurprisingly, by today, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot has passed in nearly every state. The list below includes states where all mail-in ballot application deadlines have passed as of Tuesday, November 5th. According to Vote.org:
- Alabama
- alaska
- arizona
- arkansas
- connecticut
- Delaware
- florida
- georgia
- idaho
- illinois
- Indiana
- iowa
- Kansas
- kentucky
- louisiana
- maine
- Massachusetts
- michigan
- minnesota
- montana
- nebraska
- new jersey
- new mexico
- new york
- north carolina
- ohio
- oklahoma
- pennsylvania
- south carolina
- south dakota
- tennessee
- texas
- virginia
- west virginia
- wisconsin
- wyoming
There is one important thing to note rhode island: meanwhile Vote.org The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot has passed three weeks before Election Day, but the state notes that it allows residents to request an “emergency ballot.” This can be done at your local election office, but only if you know you won’t be able to get to your polling place on Election Day.
In which states can I still request a mail-in ballot?
As the general election approaches, there are still only five states where you may be able to request a mail-in ballot. Vote.org.
maryland: Direct requests can be made up until Election Day.
mississippi: There is no deadline for mail-in and in-person requests, but the state strongly recommends mail-in requests be made no later than October 29. However, mail-in voting here is limited to people who have a legitimate reason not to vote on Election Day.
missouri: In-person requests can be made until 5 p.m. the day before Election Day.
new hampshire: The state has no specific deadlines for in-person and mail-in requests, but only those with a valid excuse can receive an absentee ballot.
north dakota: The state does not have a specific deadline for requests made in person or by mail, although the latter must be postmarked by the day before Election Day.
What will happen to all-mail voting states?
Some states, including California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia, have moved elections to an all-mail system. This means all registered voters will be sent a ballot by mail by a certain time and can choose to fill it out and return it or ignore it and vote in person. As such, these states typically do not require a deadline to request a ballot.
At this stage in the election season, if you realize you haven’t received your ballot due to a change of address or other reasons, it’s a good idea to call your local elections office to find out what your options are. It’s the best.
For more information about mail-in voting, see How to track your ballot after it’s submitted.
