Absentee Ballot Deadlines
Last updated November 21, 2008
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We recommend applying for your absentee ballot six weeks before an election, but no later than two weeks before. You'll find everything you need to vote by absentee ballot in our Absentee Voter Guides.
Military and Overseas Voters have different deadlines. Learn more at the Overseas Vote Foundation
The exact dates will be posted as they approach
| State | Earliest day to apply | Absentee Ballot Application Deadline | Absentee Ballots Due By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Received by the Thursday before the election | Postmarked by the day BEFORE the election and received by noon on election day (mailed); received by 5pm on the day BEFORE the election (hand-delivered) | |
| Alaska | Received 10 days before the election | Postmarked on election day | |
| Arizona | Received 10 days before the election | Received by 7pm on election day | |
| Arkansas | Received by the Tuesday before the election (by mail); Received by close of business the day before the election (in person) | Received by 7:30pm on election day | |
| California | Apply anytime | Received 7 days before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day |
| Colorado | January 1 of the election year | Received by the Tuesday before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day |
| Connecticut | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Received by 8pm on election day (by mail); received by the daybefore the election (in person) | |
| Delaware | Received by the Friday before the election | Received by 8pm on election day | |
| District of Columbia | Received by the Tuesday before the election | Postmarked by election day | |
| Florida | Received by 5pm on the Wednesday before the election | Received by 7pm on election day | |
| Georgia | 180 days before the election | Received by the close of business on the Friday before the election | Received by 7pm on election day |
| Hawaii | 60 days before the election | Received by 4:30pm on the Tuesday before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day |
| Idaho | Received by the Wednesday before the election | Received by 8pm on election day | |
| Illinois | 40 days before the election | Received by the Thursday before the election (by mai)l; by the day before the election (in person) | Postmarked the day BEFORE the election |
| Indiana | 90 days before the election | Received 8 days before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day |
| Iowa | Received by 5 PM on the Friday before the election | Postmarked by the day BEFORE the election and received by noon on the Monday after the election | |
| Kansas | Received by the Friday before the election | Received by 7pm on election day | |
| Kentucky | Received by the Tuesday before the Election | Received by 6pm on election day | |
| Louisiana | Your application will be rejected if you apply sooner than 60 days before the election | Received by the Friday before the election | Received by the day BEFORE the election |
| Maine | 90 days before an election | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Received by 8pm on election day |
| Maryland | Received by 4:30pm (mailed) or 11:59pm (faxed) on the Tuesday before the election |
Postmarked by election day and received by 10am on the 2nd Friday after the election
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| Massachusetts | Received by noon on the day before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day | |
| Michigan | Received by 2pm on the Saturday before the election | Received by 8pm on election day | |
| Minnesota | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day | |
| Mississippi | 45 days before the election | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Received by 5pm on the day BEFORE the election |
| Missouri | Received by 5pm on the Wednesday before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day | |
| Montana | Your application will be rejected if you apply sooner than 75 days before the election | Received by noon on the day before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day |
| Nebraska | 120 days before the election | Received by 4pm on the Wednesday before the election | Received by 8pm on election day |
| Nevada | Received by 5pm on the Tuesday before the election | Received by 7pm on election day | |
| New Hampshire | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Received by 5pm on election day | |
| New Jersey | Received by the Tuesday before the election (by mail); by 3pm on the day before the election (in person) | Received by 8pm on election day | |
| New Mexico | Apply anytime | Received by 5pm on the Friday before the election | Received by 7pm on election day |
| New York | Received by the Tuesday before the election (by mail); by the day before the election (in person) | Postmarked by the day BEFORE the election and received the 7th day after the election | |
| North Carolina | 50 days before the election | Received by the Tuesday before the election | Received by 5pm on the day BEFORE the election |
| North Dakota | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Postmarked or handed-in by the day BEFORE the election | |
| Ohio | Received by noon on the Saturday before the election | Postmarked the day BEFORE the election and received 10 days after the election | |
| Oklahoma | Received by 5pm on the Wednesday before the election | Received by 7pm on election day | |
| Oregon | The application is made available 45 days before the election | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Received by 8pm on election day |
| Pennsylvania | 50 days before the election | Received by 5pm on the Tuesday before the election | Received by 5pm on the FRIDAY BEFORE the election |
| Rhode Island | Received by 4pm on the Tuesday before the election | Received by 9pm on election day | |
| South Carolina | January 1 of the election year | Received by the Friday before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day |
| South Dakota | Received by 3pm on the day before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day | |
| Tennessee | 90 days before the election | Received by the Tuesday before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day |
| Texas | 60 days before the election | Received by the close of business on the Tuesday before the election | Received by 7pm on election day |
| Utah | Received by the Friday before the election | Postmarked by the day BEFORE the election and received before noon on the day of the Official Canvass (which varies, somewhere between 1 and 14 days after the election) | |
| Vermont | Apply anytime | Received by 5pm on the day before the election | Received by the close of polls on election day |
| Virginia | Received by the Tuesday before the election | Received by 7pm on election day | |
| Washington | 90 days before the election | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Postmarked by election day |
| West Virginia | Received by the Wednesday before the election | Postmarked by election day and received by the canvass day (the Friday after a primary and the Monday after a general election) | |
| Wisconsin | Received by 5pm on the Thursday before the election | Received by 8pm on election day | |
| Wyoming | No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 2 weeks before the election | Received by 7pm on election day |
NOTE: The data in this chart was confirmed by each state's Secretary of State - either via their website or direct email.
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