Absentee voting is available if you meet any of the criteria below. The last day to request an absentee ballot is 7 days before the election. You can return your absentee ballot request form by mail, fax or email. The form does need to be physically signed by you before being returned to the election official. Voted ballots must be received by Election Day in order to be counted. You can sign up to track your absentee ballot on your Secretary of State website. Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day.
Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person may only do so by a provisional ballot. Do not mail a ballot and vote in person. For specifics, you can find your local county clerk contact info here.
To vote by mail, you:
- You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote. For a list of underlying health conditions that makes a person especially vulnerable see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-increased-risk.html. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
- You are the caretaker of, or live with a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled. For a list of underlying health conditions that makes a person especially vulnerable see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-increased-risk.html. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
- Will be outside the county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
- Or your spouse are enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county of registration
- Reside in a licensed facility providing relatively permanent domiciliary care, other than a penal institution, outside your county of residence
- Will be unable to vote in person due to service as a juror for a federal or state court
- Are 60 or older
- Have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place
- Are a candidate for office in the election
- Serve as an election day official or as a member or employee of the election commission
- Your observance of a religious holiday prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day
- Possess a valid commercial driver’s license and certify that you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the early voting period and all day on Election Day
- Are a member of the military or an overseas citizen
You may request a by mail ballot by writing to your county elections office or fill out an absentee ballot request here. You may also email your request with an attached document including a scanned signature.
You may request an application for by mail ballot no earlier than 90 days before the election and no later than seven days before the election.
The county elections office must receive the ballot by mail no later than the close of Election Day.
Once the election office issues an absentee by mail ballot to you, you can only vote by mail. If you notify the elections office that you have spoiled your ballot or have not received the ballot, the elections office shall supply you with subsequent voting supplies. The county elections office will reject the old application and send a new application to you immediately by mail to be completed and returned again. The by mail ballot must be received by the county elections office through the postal mail, it can not be hand delivered.
First-time voters who register to vote by mail cannot vote by absentee ballot; they must vote in person.
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.
