If the idea of going to a physical polling station stresses you out, absentee voting and mail-in voting are two alternatives that could help make your life a little easier. They have different requirements, but both allow registered voters to vote before Election Day by submitting a ballot by mail or by dropping it off at an approved location (like a ballot drop box). You won’t grab any pics outside of the voting booth, but you will save yourself precious time. Plus, both of these voting methods offer far more flexibility than voting in person.
Before you plan to vote by mail, it’s important to know that not every state offers absentee or mail-in voting. You can check to see which program your state offers here. But if mail-in voting is available where you live, let’s dive into what you need to know about it before Election Day.
Absentee vs. Mail-in Voting
Even if your state offers absentee voting, not every voter qualifies. Eligibility varies by state (you can check your state’s requirements here), and some require a reason as to why you want to vote absentee. But 28 states don’t require a reason in order to vote absentee.
Some *official* reasons you can request an absentee ballot are if you aren’t able to physically get to your polling location because of injury, illness, or disability, you’re going to college at an out-of-state or out-of-country school, or you’ll be outside of your voting location (aka your county or city) due to travel. Sounds like the perfect time to schedule your next vacay!
If you do qualify, you must request your absentee ballot before Election Day. Some states will make you do this before every election (federal, state, or local), while others operate more on a one-and-done system. Basically, you sign up for absentee voting once and then automatically receive an absentee ballot before every election. Here is a list of all the states that offer this.
Instead of requesting to vote absentee, some state’s offer vote-by-mail programs. In states that do this, every registered voter is mailed a ballot, regardless if they plan to vote in person or not. You can check if your state has a vote-by-mail system here.
Deadlines to vote-by-mail or absentee, you guessed it, vary by state. You can check your state’s specific deadline here. Double check what the due date is for; it’ll either indicate when your ballot needs to be postmarked or when it has to be received. Don’t let your vote go to waste because you didn’t read the fine print.
Is voting from home right for me?
There are no rules. Well, there are. (This is yet another friendly reminder to check your state’s absentee and mail-in voting requirements first.) But when it comes to choosing the right voting method for you and your needs, there aren’t any. So yes, vote absentee or by mail if it works best for you.
If you don’t qualify in your state to vote absentee or by mail and are living away from your hometown, consider registering to vote in your college town or plan a quick trip home to vote there. A break from dorm life never hurt nobody.
Skip the line and send in your ballot if you can. But if you change your mind and want that in-person experience (who doesn’t love an “I Voted” sticker?) make sure to bring your absentee ballot to your voting site. Plus, and say it with us, check your state’s voting site for any other requirements. Now go register to vote before your state’s registration cut-off date (yep, that’s a thing, too).
