Can I still request a ballot today, on Election Day?
Voting by mail is one of the most important modern conveniences offered to American voters, but with Election Day finally upon us, you can still request a ballot to vote in a few states today.
Mail-in ballots – also known as “absentee ballots” – are an increasingly common voting method as the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many more people than ever before to consider the option. Voting by mail had been steadily increasing for years, but according to the Election Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it rose from about 23 million during the 2018 midterm elections to 43 million during the 2020 presidential race, then dropped to about 32 million during the 2022 midterm elections.
So now that millions of US citizens are casting their ballots, read on for a breakdown of which states still allow you to vote by mail. For more information about voting, see if there is still time to register in your state.
When is it too late to request a ballot?
Not surprisingly, today the deadline for requesting a ballot has passed in almost every state. The following list includes states where all deadlines for requesting mail-in ballots have passed as of Tuesday, November 5. 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
One important thing to note Rhode Island: while Stem.org notes that deadlines for requesting ballots have passed three weeks before Election Day, but the state is allowing residents to request an “emergency ballot.” This can be done at a local elections office, but only if they find that they cannot go to the polls on election day.
Which states still allow you to request a mail-in ballot today?
Now that the general election is finally here, only five states still let you request a mail-in ballot Stem.org.
Maryland: Personal requests can be submitted up to election day itself.
Mississippi: There are no set deadlines for mail-in and in-person requests, but the state strongly recommends mailing by October 29. However, voting by mail here is limited to people with eligible excuses for not voting on Election Day.
Missouri: Requests may be submitted in person until 5:00 PM the day before Election Day.
New Hampshire: This state does not have a specific deadline for in-person and mail-in requests, although only people with a qualifying excuse can receive an absentee ballot.
North Dakota: This state does not have a specific deadline for in-person or mail-in requests, but the latter must be postmarked no later than the day before Election Day.
What about all-mail voting states?
Certain states – California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington – and the District of Columbia have transitioned their elections to a fully mail-in system. This means that all registered voters will receive a ballot in the mail by a certain time, which they can fill out and return, or ignore and vote in person. As such, deadlines for requesting ballots in these states are usually not necessary.
At this stage of the election season, if you find that you have not received a ballot, perhaps due to a change of address, it is best to call your local election office to see what options are available to you.
For more information about voting by mail, learn how to track your ballot once it’s mailed.
