If you lack mobility, or away on vacation or business during the time of an election, this doesn’t let you off the hook, because you can still vote.
The way you do this is by casting what is called an absentee ballot.
What Is An Absentee Ballot?
An absentee ballot is a vote from an individual who is unable to make it to a polling station.
Which States Allow Absentee Ballot Voting?
Each state has different rules regarding these ballots.
In some states, anyone can vote via absentee ballots. Other states require that you have a valid reason for voting with an absentee.
State Rules Regarding Absentee Ballot Voting
Regarding absentee and early voting, states fall into 4 categories:
- Allows early voting, but an excuse is required for absentee voting –
- Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting
- All-mail voting
- Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting
Search the table below to learn more about the absentee balloting rules for your state.
| State | Rules | When Early voting starts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | Alabama does not offer Early Voting, but you can vote by absentee ballot in person before Election Day. |
| Alaska | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 15 days before Election Day. |
| Arizona | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 26 days before Election Day. |
| Arkansas | Allows early voting; Absentee voting although excuse required | Early voting starts 15 days before a primary or general election, and 7 days before a special election. |
| California | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting start times vary by county. In general, early voting starts 30 days before Election Day. |
| Colorado | All-mail voting | Every Colorado voter receives a ballot in the mail, but you can still vote in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center if you'd like. In-person voting voting begins at least 7 days before Election Day. |
| Connecticut | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | You can vote by absentee ballot in person in Connecticut beginning 31 days before Election Day and ending on Election Day. |
| Delaware | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | Delaware does not offer Early Voting, but you can apply for in-person absentee voting until 12 p.m. the day before Election Day. |
| D.C. | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 15 days before Election Day at One Judiciary Square and 10 days before Election Day at other early vote locations. |
| Florida | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 10 days before Election Day. |
| Georgia | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting begins the fourth Monday before Election Day. |
| Hawaii | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts two Tuesdays before Election Day. |
| Idaho | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts the third Monday before Election Day (or, in some cases, earlier). Contact your Local Election Office for more information. |
| Illinois | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting begins 15 days before Election Day. |
| Indiana | Allows early voting; Absentee voting although excuse required | Early voting starts 28 days before Election Day. |
| Iowa | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | If you are unable to vote in person in Iowa on Election Day, you can vote early by absentee ballot in-person at your county auditor's office as soon as ballots are available. |
| Kansas | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting must start by the Tuesday before Election Day. In some counties early voting starts as early as 20 days before Election Day. |
| Kentucky | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | Kentucky does not have early voting, but if you qualify to vote by absentee ballot, you can cast your absentee ballot in person starting 12 days (or more) before Election Day. See the section on Absentee Ballot Eligibility for a description of who qualifies. |
| Louisiana | Allows early voting; Absentee voting although excuse required | Early voting starts 14 days before Election Day. |
| Maine | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available (usually 30-45 days before Election Day) |
| Maryland | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts the second Thursday before Election Day. For the Presidential General Election, early voting centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. For all other elections, early voting centers are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. |
| Massachusetts | Allows early voting | Early voting starts 11 business days before Election Day. |
| Michigan | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | |
| Minnesota | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 46 days before Election Day. |
| Mississippi | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | If you are unable to vote in person in Mississippi on Election Day and are eligible to vote by absentee ballot, you can do so in-person starting as soon as absentee ballots are available. |
| Missouri | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | If you can't vote in person in Missouri on Election Day and are eligible to vote by absentee ballot, you can vote absentee in-person starting as soon as absentee ballots are available. |
| Montana | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | You can vote early by casting an absentee ballot in person starting as soon as the official ballot becomes available, usually 30 days before Election Day. |
| Nebraska | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 30 days before Election Day. |
| Nevada | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting start times vary by county. |
| New Hampshire | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | |
| New Jersey | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available, on or about the 45th day before the election. The exact start times vary by county, so it's best to call your Local Election Office and ask. |
| New Mexico | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts the third Saturday before Election Day. |
| New York | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | If you can't vote in person on Election Day and you are eligible to vote by absentee ballot, you can vote in person by absentee ballot as soon as ballots are available (at least 32 days before Election Day). |
| North Carolia | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts the 3rd Thursday before Election Day |
| North Dakota | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting start times vary by county. |
| Ohio | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | If you are unable to vote in person in Ohio on Election Day, you can vote by absentee ballot in-person beginning 29 days before the election. |
| Oklahoma | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Oklahoma does not offer Early Voting, but does allow you to vote in person by absentee ballot from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the Thursday and Friday before Election Day and from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the Saturday before Election Day. |
| Oregon | All-mail voting | All Oregon elections are held by mail-in ballot. You can turn in your ballot by mail or in person anytime before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. |
| Pennsylvania | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | |
| Rhode Island | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | Rhode Island does not have early in-person voting, but any Rhode Island voter can register and vote early by mail. |
| South Carolina | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | If you can't vote in person on Election Day and are eligible to vote by absentee ballot you can vote absentee in-person as soon as ballots are available. You can apply for and vote your absentee ballot during the same visit to your Local Election Office. |
| South Dakota | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | You can vote early by submitting an absentee ballot in person. Start times vary by county, but absentee ballots are usually available 46 days before Election Day. |
| Tennessee | Allows early voting; Absentee voting although excuse required | Early voting starts 20 days before Election Day. |
| Texas | Allows early voting; Absentee voting although excuse required | Early voting starts 17 days before most elections in Texas. If that day falls on a weekend, then early voting starts the following Monday. |
| Utah | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 14 days before Election Day. |
| Vermont | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 45 days before a primary or general election - 20 days before a municipal election. |
| Virginia | Non-early voting: excuse required for absentee voting | If you can't vote in person on Election Day and meet the requirements to vote by absentee ballot, you can vote by absentee ballot in person starting as soon as ballots are available, usually about 45 days before Election Day. If you are already registered to vote, you can apply for and vote your absentee ballot during the same visit to your Local Election Office. |
| Washington | All-mail voting | |
| West Virginia | Allows early voting; Absentee voting although excuse required | Early voting takes place during regular business hours and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m starting 13 days before Election Day. |
| Wisconsin | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts weeks before the Election Day -- each municipality (town or village) has a different start date, so contact your Local Election Office to find out when it starts where you live. Bring your photo ID with you when you vote. |
| Wyoming | Allows early voting AND non-excuse absentee voting | Early voting starts 40 days before Election Day. |
What Is The Difference Between Excuse And Non-Excuse Absentee Voting?
If you live in a state that allows absentee voting but requires an excuse, you will need to provide a reason why you cannot make it to the polls to vote on election day.
If your state allows absentee voting but does not require an excuse, you do not need to provide a reason why you are voting early.
What Are Valid Excuses For Voting With An Absentee Ballot?
This question is important if you live in those states with absentee balloting that requires an excuse.
Each state has different rules regarding excuses, but here are the most common reasons:
- You have a disability or injury that prevents you from getting to your polling place
- If you are away on travel or vacation outside of your city or residence on election day
- You are a student who attends a school out of county or state
- Anyone in the military who is stationed outside the country. Go here for a military absentee ballot.
Acceptable Excuses For Absentee Voting By State
To learn more about acceptable excuses in your state, go here.
How To Vote Absentee Ballot
Each state varies, but to vote using absentee ballots this is the process:
- Completing your Absentee Ballot Form
- Mailing it to your local county clerk
Vote.org has made the process of obtaining an absentee simple. So simple it will take you less than 3 minutes. To claim yours use the link below.
Again, once you receive your ballot in the mail complete the ballot form and then mail it to your local county clerk. The address to your country clerk will be located on your ballot.
Below is an absentee form.
This is what the ballot application looks like. Complete this and mail it to your county clerk.
Conclusion
If a lack of mobility, work or school prevents you from voting on election day, you may be able to vote using absentee ballots.
To find out if you can vote via absentee ballot you will need to check with your state because each state is different.
Obtaining absentee ballots may require more work, but it’s well worth the effort if you want your voice to be heard.
Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
