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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
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 1 day before Election Day
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 1 day 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: 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: 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: N/A
  • Dropped off in person: Received by Election Day if proxy deliverer, or 1 day BEFORE Election Day if delivered by voter
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Connecticut
Delaware
  • 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 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: 10 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 10 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 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: 4 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
  • 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
  • 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: Postmarked by Election Day
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
  • 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
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Minnesota
Mississippi
  • In person: 3 days before Election Day
  • 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: Postmarked 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: NOON 1 day before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by NOON 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 Montana
Nebraska
  • In person: 1 day 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: 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: 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
  • 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 New Hampshire
New Jersey
  • In person: 1 day 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: Postmarked by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in New Jersey
New Mexico
  • 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 New Mexico
New York
  • In person: 1 day 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 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: Postmarked 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 1 day BEFORE Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by 1 day before 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: Postmarked by 1 day before 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 Election Day
  • Returned by mail: Received by Election Day
Request your absentee or mail ballot in Oklahoma
Oregon
  • In person: 5 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 5 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 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:
  • 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: 7 days before Election Day
  • By mail: Received by 7 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
  • Returned by mail: Postmarked by 1 day before Election Day
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: 6 days before Election Day
  • 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
  • In person: The exact deadline varies municipality. Please contact your Wisconsin clerk to find out more. [Click here to find their contact information]
  • 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 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