Absentee voting is available and no excuse is required. You can return your absentee ballot request form through the mail, in person at your local elections office, or online. Voted ballots must be received by 8pm on Election Day to be counted. You can sign up to track your absentee ballot on your Secretary of State’s website. Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day. The last day to request an absentee ballot without an approved excuse is five days before the election (Thursday of the week before). After this deadline, voters may request an absentee ballot by completing and signing a Special Circumstances Application. The voter must indicate which of the four allowable reasons to request an absentee ballot after the deadline applies to them:
1. Unexpected absence from the municipality during the entire time the polls are open on Election Day; or
2. Physical Disability; or
3. Incapacity or illness that has resulted in the voter being unable to leave home or a treatment facility; or
4. Inability to travel to the polls if the voter is a coastal island ward or precinct resident.
Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person: Do not mail a ballot and vote in person Absentee ballots are processed in batches throughout the day and the list of those newly received absentee ballots is shared with each polling place for each batch, so if the absentee voter tries to vote in person, they will not be able to do so. (And conversely, if they vote in person before their ballot arrives that day, their absentee ballot will be rejected).
You do not need to have a specific reason or be unable to vote at the polls on Election Day to receive an absentee ballot.
You can request an absentee ballot online here beginning 3 months before Election Day. If you don’t want to request a ballot online, you can contact your municipal clerk either in person on through the phone. A ballot will then be mailed to your address.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 days before the election.
To be counted, voted absentee ballots must be received by the municipal clerk by 8pm on Election Day.
Map: Absentee Ballot Dropbox Locations
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.
