To vote by mail, first check your state or local election office’s rules for your election: they determine whether you need to request a ballot, when to request it, how to complete its return envelope, and when and how it must be returned. Then follow the ballot instructions, choose an allowed return method, and leave enough time to meet the election’s receipt or postmark deadline.
1. Check whether you need to request a ballot
There is no single nationwide rule for voting by mail. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) explains that some states require a reason, some let any eligible voter request a ballot, and some send ballots automatically. Begin with the EAC’s state and territorial election office directory, then check the office’s instructions for your locality and election.
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Confirm these details before applying or relying on an automatically mailed ballot:
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- How to request a ballot and the deadline for the specific election.
- Whether a ballot will be sent automatically, and when to contact the election office if it does not arrive.
Request forms, application channels, and cutoffs vary. Do not assume that a rule or deadline from another state—or from a previous election—applies to yours.
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2. Complete the ballot and return envelope as instructed
Read the ballot and envelope directions before marking or sealing anything. Mark the ballot as directed, then complete every field requested on the return envelope. Some states require a witness or notary signature; whether that applies depends on your jurisdiction. Missing information or signatures can affect whether the ballot is accepted, so treat the envelope instructions as part of the voting process, not optional paperwork.
3. Choose an allowed way to return it
Your local election office determines which return methods are available and their cutoffs. Check the instructions for your specific election before choosing a method.
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| Return method | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Postal mail | Whether the return envelope is prepaid; if not, the required postage. Also check the deadline rule and allow time for delivery. |
| Official drop box | Whether your jurisdiction offers one, which boxes are authorized for your county, city, or township, and the applicable cutoff. Use the ballot’s return envelope and complete all requested information. |
| Election-office delivery | Whether hand delivery is allowed, where the ballot may be delivered, and the office’s deadline and hours. |
A drop box or in-person option may avoid postal-return postage, but availability and rules differ. Use only a box officially designated for your jurisdiction. The EAC’s general guidance says to return a ballot to a drop box no later than poll closing on Election Day; your own election office’s procedures and deadline are the ones to confirm.
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A ballot may need to arrive at the election office by a stated deadline, or a jurisdiction may accept a ballot that arrives later if it was postmarked by a specified date. The rule and cutoff are state- and election-specific. Do not assume that mailing or postmarking a ballot on Election Day is enough.
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For domestic nonmilitary voters using the mail, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recommends mailing a completed ballot before Election Day and at least one week before the deadline by which the election office must receive it. Some states recommend more time. Read the USPS Election Mail guidance and follow the earlier timing advised by your election office when applicable.
If you want a postmark that aligns with the day you mail your ballot, USPS says you can take the mailpiece to a Postal Service retail counter and ask for a manual postmark. USPS applies it without charge when it accepts custody of the mailpiece. This does not change your state’s deadline or make late mailing safe; check the local rule and mail early.
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5. Track your ballot if your state offers tracking
Many states provide online ballot tracking, but the available status details differ. Use the tracking link or instructions from your state or territorial election website, reached through the EAC directory. Check the status early enough to contact your election office if it indicates a problem or does not show that the ballot was received.
Options for overseas voters and voters who need accessible procedures
Living abroad
Eligible U.S. citizens living abroad can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register and request an absentee ballot. Vote.gov identifies the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as an emergency option if a requested paper ballot will not arrive in time to return it by the state deadline. Whether electronic return by email or fax is allowed depends on the state; check the instructions for your election before using that method.
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Accessible voting
Accessible ways to request, mark, and return a ballot vary by jurisdiction. Contact your state or local election office to learn which options are available and how to use them for your election.
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