New Voters Project
Register to Vote

Getting an Absentee Ballot

If you don't think you'll be able to vote in person for some reason, make sure to request an absentee ballot. Make sure you request it before your state's deadline!

Some states have specific instructions and forms available online for requesting an absentee ballot - we've included links to them below.

  Absentee Ballot Deadline Postmark Needed? State Absentee Ballot Request Instructions State Absentee Ballot Request Form
Alabama 5 pm on election day or postmarked day before election day Yes Visit the website Download the form
Alaska Not later than 10 days after election;15 days for overseas ballots Yes, if mailed Visit the website Download the form
Arizona 7 pm election day No    
Arkansas 7:30 pm election day; not later than 5 pm 10 days after election day Yes Visit the website  
California 8 pm election day No Visit the website Download the form
Colorado 7 pm election day No   Download the form
Connecticut 8pm election day No Visit the website Download the form
Delaware Noon the day before election day No Visit the website  
District of Columbia 10 days after election day     Download the form
Florida 7 pm election day No Visit the website  
Georgia Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Hawaii Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Idaho 8 pm election day No Visit the website Download the form
Illinois Close of polls No Visit the website  
Indiana Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Iowa Close of polls or with postmark not later than the day before election and received by commissioner no later than noon on Monday after election day No Visit the website Download the form
Kansas Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Kentucky Close of polls (6pm) No Visit the website  
Louisiana Midnight the day before election day No Visit the website Download the form
Maine Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Maryland Friday the week after election day No Visit the website Download the form
Massachusetts 10 days after election day Yes Visit the website Download the form
Michigan Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Minnesota Last mail delivery on election day No Visit the website Download the form
Mississippi 5 pm, if mailed (except presidential ballots); noon the Saturday before a Tuesday election; Thursday before a Saturday election, or the second day after election on other days No Visit the website  
Missouri Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Montana Close of polls No    
Nebraska 10 am the second day after election day No Visit the website Download the form
Nevada Close of polls No Visit the website  
New Hampshire 5 pm on election day No Visit the website  
New Jersey 8 pm on election day No Visit the website Download the form
New Mexico 7 pm on election day No Visit the website  
New York Postmarked day before election day Yes Visit the website Download the form
North Carolina 5 pm the day before election day No Visit the website  
North Dakota Within two days after election day, if not postmarked; if hand-delivered, 5 pm election day No Visit the website Download the form
Ohio Close of polls or10 days after election if outside U.S. Yes, if mailed from outside U.S. Visit the website Download the form
Oklahoma 7 pm on election day No Visit the website Download the form
Oregon 8 pm on election day No Visit the website  
Pennsylvania 5 pm Friday before election for state and local officials; before the close of polls for president and vice president No Visit the website Download the form
Rhode Island 9 pm on election day No Visit the website  
South Carolina Close of polls No Visit the website  
South Dakota Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Tennessee Close of polls No Visit the website  
Texas Before close of polls; for overseas ballots, must be received by fifth day after the Nov. general election and by the second day after all other elections No Visit the website Download the form
Utah Noon the Monday following election day Yes, if received after close of polls Visit the website Download the form
Vermont Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Virginia Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Washington Must be postmarked on or before election day Yes Visit the website  
West Virginia Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Wisconsin Close of polls No Visit the website Download the form
Wyoming 7pm election day No