Save this story Save Save this story Save The 2020 United States presidential election is somehow already less than 70 days away. If you’re eligible to vote on November 3, you should! The Covid-19 pandemic has created some additional logistical considerations, though. You can still vote in person , but officials around the country are encouraging people to vote absentee by mail if possible to reduce crowds and make social distancing easier at polling places. And you may prefer to vote by mail regardless this year to safeguard your health, especially if you have underlying conditions or circumstances that put you at extra risk. Regardless of why you may want to vote by mail, we’re going to show you how , including the deadlines you need to hit for every state to make sure your ballot gets there on time. Why Everyone’s Talking About Voting by Mail The main rule of thumb for voting by mail is simply to request your ballot as far in advance as possible—if required in your state—and then return it as soon as you can. That’s especially important this year, when substantially more ballots than usual will be mailed in most states and the Postal Service is grappling with massive budget deficits and operational cuts under postmaster general Louis DeJoy. The longtime Republican fundraiser and Trump supporter has instituted measures that have reportedly slowed the mail, though DeJoy testified before Congress recently that he has halted those reforms until after the election. “Transitions don’t always go smoothly,” he said this week. “I am not engaged in sabotaging the election,” he told the House Oversight Committee. “We will do everything in our power and structure to deliver the ballots on time.” But President Donald Trump has consistently undermined that message, seizing on emergency absentee by mail voting measures as partisan efforts to “rig” the election in favor of his opponent Joe Biden. Trump argues that expanding mail voting will favor the Democrats, an idea not supported by research . And he alleges that widespread mail voting will lead to rampant fraud, even though mail voting scams are extremely rare. The bottom line for election officials and researchers, though, is that mail voting is safe and secure. “We’re encouraging everyone to vote by mail and will continue to do things to try to get people to be more comfortable with it,” says TJ Pyche, director of communications and outreach for Alachua County, Florida’s Supervisor of Elections. “For every person who sends in a vote by mail ballot that’s one less person at polling places on Election Day. It does make those social distancing protocols and procedures easier. But if you don’t want to vote by mail you don’t have to. We’re telling people here to do what they’re comfortable with and just make sure that they vote.” Vote by mail doesn’t offer perfect security, but it’s not intended to be Fort Knox. Think of it instead as using the barking dog model: You have a lock and deadbolt on your front door, but the real way you’ll know about an intruder is if your dog starts flipping out in the middle of the night. “We can detect issues if they arise,” says Ben Adida, executive director at VotingWorks, a nonprofit election vendor. “And especially when it comes to vote by mail and voter impersonation, you might get away with impersonating a small number of voters and you won’t swing the election, but if you do anything at scale you’re going to get found out. I don’t worry about the risk of fraud, because there are processes in place for ensuring everybody only gets to vote once.” The FBI confirmed as much on Wednesday. “We have not seen, to date, a coordinated national voter fraud effort during a major election,” a senior Federal Bureau of Investigation official said in a call with reporters. “It would be extraordinarily difficult to change a federal election outcome through this type of fraud alone.” How to Get Started OK, so how do you do it? If you live in Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and Utah, you’ve already had almost total mail voting in previous elections, so just proceed as usual. But the first step is always to make sure you’re registered to vote. You can check your current status and find your state’s directions at Vote.gov . Once you’re registered, you’ll need to request a mail ballot if your state isn’t going to send you one automatically, fill it out when it arrives, and return it with as much time left as possible before Election Day. You can find all the state-by-state details below. In most states you can also return your ballot in person, either at municipal offices like your county clerk’s office or to secure drop boxes set up specifically for this purpose in your area. You can also return your ballot to a polling place on Election Day in many states. If you want to go that route, find your state’s election website here for details. Otherwise, the specifics of mail voting in every state are below. But first a quick note about who can and can’t vote in presidential elections. People born in and living in Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands are US citizens or US nationals and can vote in congressional elections and presidential primaries, but can’t vote in presidential elections. In many states people who have been convicted of a felony can’t vote for a period of time or indefinitely. Intellectual disabilities can also impact voting rights in different states. All other US citizens who are 18 or older can vote, even if they’re homeless (though this can be challenging in practice ). Now scroll to your home state for specific details. Happy voting! Alabama Deadline to register : October 19 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 29 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 2 Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day, 12pm Ballot Tracking : Yes Alaska Deadline to register : October 4 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 24 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 13 Ballot Tracking : Yes Arizona Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Arkansas Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 27 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes California Deadline to register : October 19 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 20 Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Colorado Deadline to register : October 26 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Connecticut Deadline to register : October 27 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : No Notes : Register in person on Election Day Delaware Deadline to register : October 10 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes District of Columbia Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 10 Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Florida Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 24 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Georgia Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 30 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Hawaii Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : No Notes : Register in person on Election Day Idaho Deadline to register : October 9 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 23 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Illinois Deadline to register : October 18 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 29 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 17 Ballot Tracking : No Notes : Register in person on Election Day Indiana Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here (Automatic PDF download) Deadline to request ballot : October 22 Excuse Needed : Yes Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : No Iowa Deadline to register : October 24 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 24 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 2 Ballot must be received by : November 9 Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Kansas Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 27 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 6 Ballot Tracking : Yes Kentucky Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 27 Excuse Needed : Yes Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Louisiana Deadline to register : October 14 Request a ballot : Here or here Deadline to request ballot : October 30 Excuse Needed : Yes Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Maine Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 29 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : No Notes : Register in person on Election Day Maryland Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 20 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 13 Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Massachussetts Deadline to register : October 24 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 30 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 6 Ballot Tracking : Yes Michigan Deadline to register : October 19 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 30 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Minnesota Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : November 2 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 10 Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Mississippi Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : November 2 Excuse Needed : Yes Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 8 Ballot Tracking : No Missouri Deadline to register : October 7 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 21 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : No Montana Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : Varies by county Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Nebraska Deadline to register : October 16 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 23 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person until October 23 Nevada Deadline to register : October 6 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : Sent automatically Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 10 Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register online through October 29. In person registration available on Election Day New Hampshire Deadline to register : October 21 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : November 2 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day New Jersey Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 10 Ballot Tracking : Yes New Mexico Deadline to register : October 6 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 30 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : No Notes : Register in person through October 31 New York Deadline to register : October 9 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 27 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 10 Ballot Tracking : No Notes : Request an absentee ballot in person until November 2 North Carolina Deadline to register : October 9 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 27 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 6 Ballot Tracking : Yes North Dakota Deadline to register : Not required Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : Varies by county Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 2 Ballot must be received by : November 9 Ballot Tracking : Yes Ohio Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 31 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 2 Ballot must be received by : November 13 Ballot Tracking : Yes Oklahoma Deadline to register : October 9 Request a ballot : Here or here Deadline to request ballot : October 27 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : October 27 Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Oregon Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Pennsylvania Deadline to register : October 19 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 27 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Rhode Island Deadline to register : October 3 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 14 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register online or in person through October 4 South Carolina Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 30 Excuse Needed : Yes Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person through October 2 or online through October 4 South Dakota Deadline to register : October 19 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : November 2 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 2 Ballot Tracking : Yes Tennessee Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 27 Excuse Needed : Yes Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Texas Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 23 Excuse Needed : Yes Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 4 Ballot Tracking : Yes Utah Deadline to register : October 5 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 2 Ballot must be received by : November 9 Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register online through October 23 or in person on Election Day Vermont Deadline to register : November 3, Election Day Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 2 Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Virginia Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 23 by mail and online, October 31 in person Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 6 Ballot Tracking : Yes Washington Deadline to register : October 26 Request a ballot : Sent automatically Deadline to request ballot : N/A Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : No deadline Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person through Election Day West Virginia Deadline to register : October 13 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 28 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : November 3, Election Day Ballot must be received by : November 9 Ballot Tracking : Yes Wisconsin Deadline to register : October 14 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : October 29 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day Wyoming Deadline to register : October 20 Request a ballot : Here Deadline to request ballot : November 2 Excuse Needed : No Deadline to postmark : N/A Ballot must be received by : November 3, Election Day Ballot Tracking : Yes Notes : Register in person on Election Day More Great WIRED Stories The furious hunt for the MAGA bomber How Bloomberg’s digital army is still fighting for Democrats Tips to make remote learning work for your children “Real” programming is an elitist myth AI magic makes 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