The COVID-19 pandemic greatly shifted how voting was conducted in 2020. In the 2016 and 2018 elections, roughly a quarter of all voters used a mail-in ballot. In the 2020 elections, about 46% of voters voted by mail. In the 2022 midterm elections, 35 million mail-in votes, about 31.9% of voters, cast their vote by mail.
Mail-in voting is expected to be strong this year, with some states making their voting laws more accessible. Former President Donald Trump, who once advocated against the process, appears to have changed his mind with the launch of his campaign’s grassroots program “Swamp the Vote USA.”
Here’s what to know about mail-in voting for the 2024 election.
Which states allow mail-in voting?
Automatic mail-in ballot distribution
Below are the states that send ballots to every registered voter:
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
Must file a request for a mail-in ballot
These are the states and territories that allow registered voters to request mail-in ballots:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Florida
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- Virgin Islands
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming.
Must be eligible to vote by mail
The following states require an eligible reason to request a mail-in ballot:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia
Deadlines for voting by mail
In order to be accepted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked with a date of Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, or earlier. Very few states offer exceptions for clear postmark labels. In regards to counting ballots, some states have earlier requirements than others for when ballots must be turned in to a local election office. Here’s when your ballot needs to arrive to be counted:
Alabama
If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 12 p.m. If hand delivered, Monday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.
Alaska
Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received no later than Nov. 15
Arizona
Received by Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Arkansas
If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. If hand delivered, Friday, Nov. 1, by close of business
California
Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received no later than Nov. 12
Colorado
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Connecticut
If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. If hand delivered, Monday, Nov. 4
Delaware
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
District of Columbia
Postmarked on or before Nov. 5, received by Friday, Nov. 15
Florida
Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. For overseas voters, Friday, Nov. 15
Georgia
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5, at close of polls
Hawaii
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Idaho
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Illinois
Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received no later than Nov. 19
Indiana
Due by Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.
Iowa
Received before Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Kansas
Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received no later than Friday, Nov. 8
Kentucky
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.
Louisiana
Monday, Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m. For military or overseas voters, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Maine
Received by municipal clerk by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Maryland
Postmarked on or before Nov. 5 and received no later than Friday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.
Massachusetts
Received by Nov. 5.
Michigan
Received by city or township clerk by Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Minnesota
Received by mail, drop box, or in person by 8 p.m. Nov. 5.
Mississippi
Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received by Nov. 12 (five business days).
Missouri
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Montana
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Nebraska
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Nevada
Postmarked on or before Nov. 5 and received by Nov. 9. Ballots with unclear postmarks received by Nov. 8 will be counted
New Hampshire
Received by Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.
New Jersey
Postmarked by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, received by Monday, Nov. 11.
New Mexico
Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
New York
Postmarked on Nov. 5 and received no more than Tuesday, Nov. 12
North Carolina
If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5. If hand delivered, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.
North Dakota
Must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 4. If delivered by hand, Monday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.
Ohio
Must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 4. If delivered by mail, Saturday, Nov. 9. If hand delivered, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Oklahoma
If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. If hand delivered, Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
Oregon
Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received by Tuesday, Nov. 12
Pennsylvania
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Puerto Rico
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.
Rhode Island
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
South Carolina
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
South Dakota
Received by Nov. 5.
Tennessee
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Texas
Postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 and received by 5 p.m. the next day. For overseas voters, received by Sunday, Nov. 10
Utah
Must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 4. If hand delivered, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Vermont
If delivered by mail, Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. If hand delivered, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Virginia
Postmarked by Nov. 5, and received by Friday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m.
Virgin Islands
Received by Friday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.
Washington
All ballots postmarked by Election Day will be counted
West Virginia
If delivered by mail, Monday, Nov. 11. If hand delivered, Monday, Nov. 4. Ballots with an unclear postmark received by Wednesday, Nov. 6 will be counted
Wisconsin
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Wyoming
Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
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How to track your mail-in ballot by state
Alabama: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Alaska: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Arizona: Use their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Arkansas: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
California: Use their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Colorado: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Connecticut: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Delaware: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
District of Columbia: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Florida: Call (833) 868-3331 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Georgia: Check the mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Hawaii: Call (866) 687-8683 or check the mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Idaho: Call (866) 687-8683 or check the mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Illinois: Check their provisional mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Indiana: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Iowa: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Kansas: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Kentucky: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Louisiana: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Maine: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Maryland: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Massachusetts: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Michigan: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Minnesota: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Mississippi: Call (866) 687-8683. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Missouri: Call (866) 687-8683. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Montana: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Nebraska: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
Nevada: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
New Hampshire: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.
New Jersey: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
New Mexico: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator
New York: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
North Carolina: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
North Dakota: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Ohio: Call either (866) 644-6868 or (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Oklahoma: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Oregon: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Pennsylvania: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Puerto Rico: Call (787) 764-5601 or email [email protected]. For more voting information, check for online tools in your territory.
Rhode Island: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
South Carolina: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
South Dakota: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Tennessee: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Texas: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Utah: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Vermont: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Virginia: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Virgin Islands: For St. Croix, call (340) 773-1021 or email [email protected]. For St. John, call (340) 776-6365 or email [email protected]. For St. Thomas, call (340) 774-3107 or email [email protected]. For more voting information, check for online tools in your territory.
Washington: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
West Virginia: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Wisconsin: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.
Wyoming: Call (866) 687-8683. For more voting information, use their local election locator.