There are three main categories of
voter participation in the US, all of which vary from state-to-state with regard to options, requirements and deadlines:
Traditional Voter Registration: Individuals who have registered to vote under their state's requirements (by party or open) and cast their ballot election day.
Early Voting: Where individuals have the option to
vote in advance of election day, usually within 30 days, by mail or in person at a designated polling location.
| Absentee Voting: Where an individual knows in advance they will be "absent" from their registered state of residence, and must request an absentee ballot to send in by mail before the election. |
Absentee voting was first established in 1864 in nineteen states to allow Union troops in service to vote away from home, and is now an accepted option for voting in all US states.
30 states allow for no-excuse (no required reason) absentee voting, while 20 states require a valid or documented excuse when applying for a ballot.
Voting by mail has shown to increase voter participation significantly and there is a growing movement to make all forms of voting available by mail in each state.
Three states - Colorado, Oregon, and Washington - have switched to mail-in ballots for all registered voters and mail voter's ballots automatically in advance of election day.
Absentee Voting: State-By-State Deadlines
|
State
|
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
(By Mail)
|
Absentee Ballot Due Date
|
| Alabama* |
November 3 |
November 8 |
| Alaska |
October 29 |
November 8 |
| Arizona |
October 28 |
November 8 |
| Arkansas* |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| California |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| Colorado |
Sent Automatically |
November 8 |
| Connecticut* |
None. Recommend by October 9 |
November 8 |
| Delaware* |
November 4 |
November 8 |
| District of Columbia |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| Florida |
November 2 |
November 8 |
| Georgia |
November 4 |
November 8 |
| Hawaii |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| Idaho |
October 28 |
November 8 |
| Illinois |
November 3 |
November 8 |
| Indiana* |
October 31 |
November 8 |
| Iowa |
November 4 |
November 7 |
| Kansas |
November 4 |
November 8 |
| Kentucky* |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| Louisiana* |
November 4 |
November 7 |
| Maine |
November 3 |
November 8 |
| Maryland |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| Massachusetts* |
November 7 |
November 8 |
| Michigan* |
November 5 |
November 8 |
| Minnesota |
November 7 |
November 8 |
| Mississippi* |
November 5 |
November 7 |
| Missouri* |
November 2 |
November 8 |
| Montana |
November 7 |
November 8 |
| Nebraska |
October 28 |
November 8 |
| Nevada |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| New Hampshire* |
November 7 |
November 8 |
| New Jersey |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| New Mexico |
November 4 |
November 8 |
| New York* |
November 1 |
November 7 |
| North Carolina |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| North Dakota |
November 7 |
November 8 |
| Ohio |
November 5 |
November 7 |
| Oklahoma |
November 2 |
November 8 |
| Oregon |
Sent Automatically |
November 8 |
| Pennsylvania* |
November 1 |
November 4 |
| Rhode Island* |
October 18 |
November 8 |
| South Carolina* |
November 4 |
November 8 |
| South Dakota |
November 7 |
November 8 |
| Tennessee* |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| Texas* |
October 28 |
November 8 |
| Utah |
November 3 |
November 7 |
| Vermont |
November 7 |
November 8 |
| Virginia* |
November 1 |
November 8 |
| Washington |
Sent Automatically |
November 8 |
| West Virginia* |
November 2 |
November 8 |
| Wisconsin |
November 3 |
November 8 |
| Wyoming |
November 7 |
November 8 |
* Requires "valid excuse" for absentee voting
We encourage all state directors, organizations, unions and candidates to submit your voter registration drives, phone banks, campaign and fundraising events to the
Calendar.
38 Days to go. Get Out and
VOTE!
