2026 general electionElection Day: Nov. 3, 2026Voting dates by state
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How to vote

Absentee Ballot 2026: How to Request, Return, Track and Fix a Mail Ballot

An absentee ballot lets you vote without going to a polling place on Election Day. Whether you can get one, when you must ask for it and when it must be back are decided by your state; in the 27 states the Ledger covers, the first request deadlines for the November 3, 2026 election fall on October 19.

By Dr. AtlasPublished

Key points
  • An absentee ballot is, in the Election Assistance Commission's words, “a ballot cast by a voter other than in-person on election day”; mail voting made up 30.3% of turnout in 2024. [2][3]
  • In the 27 states the Ledger covers, request deadlines for November 3, 2026 begin on October 19 (Iowa and Oklahoma); California, Nevada and Oregon mail ballots to active registered voters without a request. [18][24][45][49][52]
  • In 21 of the 27 states with a Ledger guide a mailed ballot must be received by Election Day (in Louisiana, the day before); Alaska, California, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon and Texas accept ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive within a set window. [13][18][28][43][44][51][60]
  • The Postal Service recommends mailing a completed ballot at least one week before your state's deadline, and a manual postmark is free at a post office counter. [4]
  • A non-matching or incomplete signature was the most common reason mail ballots were rejected in 2024 (40.7%); in the Ledger's state guides, 2026 cure deadlines run from 8 p.m. on Election Day in Iowa and Montana to November 25 in California. [3][19][25][36]

An absentee ballot is one you receive before Election Day and return by mail, at a drop box or at an election office instead of voting at a polling place. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) defines it as “a ballot cast by a voter other than in-person on election day,” and USA.gov describes absentee voting and vote-by-mail as “voting before Election Day by mail or drop-off.” [1][2]

For the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, each state sets its own deadlines, and they come early: in Iowa and Oklahoma a request for a mailed ballot is due by 5 p.m. on October 19. [24][49] The table below covers the 27 states with a verified Ledger voting guide.

What is an absentee ballot?

“Absentee ballot,” “mail ballot” and “mail-in ballot” usually describe the same thing. The EAC's glossary adds: “Some jurisdictions use the term synonymous with mailed ballots while other jurisdictions use the term synonymous with early voting.” [2] Its report on the 2024 election says, “Some states use the term ‘absentee voting’ instead of ‘mail voting.’” [3]

Pennsylvania has a mail-in ballot that any registered voter may request without a reason and a separate absentee ballot for voters who will be away or have a disability or illness; Nebraska calls its mailed ballot an early voting ballot, and Arizona a ballot-by-mail. [17][39][53] Mail voting “comprised 30.3% of the turnout for the 2024 election,” down from 43% in 2020. [3]

Who can vote by mail

Three of the 27 states in the table send a ballot to every active registered voter: California, Nevada (unless the voter opted out) and Oregon. [18][45][52] Eight require a reason, such as age, illness, disability or absence from the county: Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. [15][27][29][33][41][56][58][61] Others take an application from any registered voter; Pennsylvania, Michigan, Montana and Oklahoma are examples. [31][35][50][53]

How to vote by mail, step by step

  1. Check your registration (how to register to vote) and your state's rule in the guide linked from the table.
  2. Request the ballot early: the Postal Service recommends that voters “request their ballot as early as their jurisdiction allows.” [4]
  3. Complete the envelope exactly as instructed. Alabama requires a notarized affidavit or two witnesses 18 or older, Oklahoma a notarized affidavit, and Pennsylvania a ballot sealed in the yellow envelope marked “official election ballot” with the declaration on the outer envelope signed and dated. [15][50][53]
  4. Return it the way your state allows. By mail, the Postal Service recommends sending it “before Election Day, and at least one week prior to the deadline.” [4]
  5. Track it. Trackers in Michigan, Oklahoma and New Hampshire show when the ballot was sent and when the election office received it; Pennsylvania, Ohio and South Carolina also offer online tracking. [31][41][47][50][53][56]
  6. Fix problems fast: some states allow a cure only until Election Day (see the cure table).

Absentee ballot deadlines by state for November 3, 2026

In 21 of the 27 states the election office must have the ballot in hand by Election Day (in Louisiana, the day before). Six accept a ballot postmarked by Election Day that arrives later: Alaska, California, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon and, by one business day, Texas. [13][18][28][43][44][51][60] For in-person voting, see when early voting starts and what ID to bring.

Absentee and mail ballot deadlines for the November 3, 2026 general election, as of September 17, 2026
StateDeadline to request a mailed ballotVoted ballot must be received by
AlaskaOct. 24; Nov. 2 for online or fax delivery [13]Postmarked by Nov. 3; received by Nov. 13 [13]
Alabama †Oct. 27 by mail; Oct. 29 in person [14]Noon Nov. 3 by mail; by hand, 5 p.m. the day before (Nov. 2) [14][15]
ArizonaOct. 23, 5 p.m. [16][17]7 p.m. Nov. 3 [17]
CaliforniaNo request needed [18]Postmarked by Nov. 3; received within 7 days (Nov. 10) [18]
FloridaOct. 22, 5 p.m. [20]7 p.m. local time Nov. 3 [20]
GeorgiaOct. 23 [22]Close of polls Nov. 3 [23]
IowaOct. 19, before 5 p.m. CT [24]Before 8 p.m. CT Nov. 3 [24]
Kentucky †Oct. 20, 11:59 p.m. ET [26]6 p.m. local time Nov. 3 [26]
Louisiana †Oct. 30, 4:30 p.m. [28][29]4:30 p.m. Nov. 2 [28][29]
MaineOct. 29, close of business [30]8 p.m. Nov. 3 [30]
Michigan5 p.m. the Friday before (Oct. 30); in person Nov. 2, 4 p.m. [31][32]8 p.m. Nov. 3 [31]
Missouri †5 p.m. the second Wednesday before (Oct. 21) [33]Close of polls Nov. 3 [34]
MontanaNoon the day before (Nov. 2) [35]8 p.m. Nov. 3 [35]
North CarolinaOct. 20, 5 p.m. [37]7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 [38]
NebraskaOct. 23, 6 p.m. [39]8 p.m. CT (7 p.m. MT) Nov. 3 [39]
New Hampshire †Noon the day before (Nov. 2); 5 p.m. in person [40]5 p.m. Nov. 3 by mail; in person, 5 p.m. the day before (Nov. 2) [41]
New JerseyOct. 27 by mail; Nov. 2, 3 p.m. in person [42]Postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 3; received by Nov. 9 [43]
NevadaNo request needed [45]Postmarked by Nov. 3; received by 5 p.m. on the fourth day after (Nov. 7) [44]
OhioOct. 27, close of business [47][48]7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 [47]
OklahomaOct. 19, 5 p.m. [49]7 p.m. Nov. 3 by mail; by hand, end of business the day before (Nov. 2) [50]
OregonNo request needed [52]Postmarked by Nov. 3; received by Nov. 10 [51]
PennsylvaniaOct. 27, 5 p.m. [53]8 p.m. Nov. 3 [53]
South Carolina †Oct. 23, 5 p.m. [54]7 p.m. Nov. 3 [55]
Tennessee †Oct. 24 [57]Close of polls Nov. 3, by mail only [58]
Texas †Oct. 23 [59]7 p.m. Nov. 3; 5 p.m. Nov. 4 if postmarked by 7 p.m. Nov. 3 [60]
WisconsinOct. 29, 5 p.m. [63]8 p.m. Nov. 3 [64]
WyomingAny day before Election Day (Nov. 2) [65]7 p.m. Nov. 3 [66]

All dates are in 2026; times are local unless a zone is shown. † A reason is required to vote by mail. [15][27][29][33][41][56][58][61] Copied from the Ledger's verified state guides; a date in parentheses is the Ledger's count from the rule the page prints. Military and overseas voters may have different deadlines, as Florida's calendar notes. [20] Wisconsin's entries come from municipal clerks' pages. [63][64] The other 23 states and the District of Columbia have no verified Ledger guide and are omitted. A ballot requested on the last day must still be back by the deadline in the third column; the Postal Service recommends requesting a ballot “as early as their jurisdiction allows.” [4] Confirm with your election office.

Postmarked or received: when to mail an absentee ballot

Whether a postmark helps depends on the state. Pennsylvania is explicit: “A postmark by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 is not sufficient.” [53] Where the deadline is the close of polls, as in Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee, the hour depends on when polls close. [23][34][58]

States may choose either rule. On June 29, 2026, in Watson v. Republican National Committee, the Supreme Court held, as the decision's syllabus puts it, that the federal election-day statutes “do not prevent Mississippi from counting absentee ballots postmarked by election day but received up to five days thereafter.” The syllabus calls Mississippi “one of roughly 30 States that count at least some absentee ballots mailed by election day but received afterward.” Justice Barrett wrote for a five-Justice majority; Justice Alito dissented, joined by Justices Thomas and Gorsuch and, in part, Justice Kavanaugh. [8]

The Postal Service says it tries to ensure that every returned ballot is postmarked, and that a voter who wants the postmark to match the mailing date can take the envelope to a post office counter and “request a manual postmark, which will be applied free of charge.” [4]

Ballot drop box rules

A drop box, in the EAC's glossary, is “a locked container, either indoor or outdoor, where voters can return a mailed ballot for collection directly by an election official.” [2] In the EAC's 2024 survey of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories, 36 states reported using drop boxes, and nearly 15 million mail ballots came back that way. [3]

Kentucky says drop boxes “are available in each county”; California, Oregon and New Jersey take ballots at drop boxes until 8 p.m. on Election Day; Arizona takes them at “an official ballot drop-off site, or any voting location in the county” until 7 p.m. [17][18][26][42][51] Tennessee is the opposite case: “You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.).” [58] For locations, ask your county or local election office. See also the Ledger's county-by-county report on Arizona's early ballots.

Ballot curing: how to fix a problem with a mail ballot

To cure a ballot is, in the EAC's definition, “the process of fixing an error or providing information to an elections office when your ballot has originally been rejected for counting.” [2] In 2024, election offices rejected 584,463 returned mail ballots (1.2%), most often for a non-matching or incomplete signature (40.7%) or a missed deadline (17.8%). “More than 585,000 mail ballots entered the cure process,” and more than half were cured and counted. [3] The deadlines below run from Election Day itself (Iowa, Montana) to 22 days after it (California).

Deadlines to cure a mail ballot after the November 3, 2026 election, in 11 states
StateCure deadline
ArizonaNov. 8 [16]
CaliforniaNov. 25, 5 p.m. [19]
Florida2nd day after the election (Nov. 5), 5 p.m. local time [21]
GeorgiaNov. 6, 5 p.m. [22]
IowaNov. 3, 8 p.m., at the county auditor's office [25]
MichiganNov. 6, 5 p.m. [32]
MontanaNov. 3, 8 p.m.; after that the ballot is handled as a provisional ballot, which the voter may resolve until 5 p.m. the day after (Nov. 4) [36]
New JerseyNov. 14, cure form received [42]
Nevada6th day after Election Day (Nov. 9), 5 p.m. [46]
OregonNov. 24 [51]
Texas6th day after Election Day (Nov. 9) [62]

From the Ledger's verified state guides; the other states in the deadline table did not print a cure deadline on the pages the Ledger verified. Ask your election office.

Military and overseas voters

Federal law requires every state to let absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters vote by absentee ballot in federal elections and, with a limited exception written into the statute, to send ballots requested at least 45 days ahead by that 45th day, which is September 19 for this election. [7] The Federal Post Card Application (Standard Form 76) “is used to register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and update your contact information,” and the Federal Voting Assistance Program recommends submitting it every year. [5] The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is the fallback: “If you do not receive your absentee ballot in enough time to meet your state's deadlines, use this ballot as a backup.” [6]

As of September 17, 2026: parts of a federal ballot-mail rule are blocked A March 31, 2026 executive order directed the Postmaster General to begin a rulemaking on mail-in and absentee ballots, and the Postal Service's final rule, “Ballot Mail for Federal Elections,” gives its effective date as August 21, 2026. [10][11] A federal judge in Boston barred the Postal Service from implementing parts of it, and on September 14, 2026 the Supreme Court denied the government's application to put that ruling on hold; Justice Alito, joined by Justice Thomas, dissented. [9][12] The government told the Court the rule imposes “only modest” requirements; the 23 states and the District of Columbia that sued called it an “unprecedented experiment” that “is unlawful.” [12] The rule's text says eligibility for mail-in and absentee voting “will continue to be governed by state law” and that state and local election officials “will determine whether completed ballots are eligible to be counted.” [10]

Questions and answers

What is an absentee ballot?

It is a ballot you vote without going to a polling place on Election Day; the EAC defines it as “a ballot cast by a voter other than in-person on election day.” Some states call it a mail or mail-in ballot, and the rules are set by each state: in the EAC's 2024 survey of the states, the District of Columbia and five territories, 18 required an excuse to vote by mail and 38 did not. [2][3]

What is the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot in Ohio?

In Ohio, your county board of elections must receive the absentee ballot application by the close of business on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the seventh day before Election Day; the Hamilton County board prints the time as 8:30 p.m. The voted ballot must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, 2026. [47][48]

When is the PA mail in ballot deadline for 2026?

In Pennsylvania, your county election office must receive your mail-in or absentee ballot application by 5 p.m. on October 27, 2026 and your completed ballot by 8 p.m. on November 3, 2026; the Pennsylvania Department of State says a postmark by then “is not sufficient.” Seal the ballot in the yellow envelope, put that in the outer return envelope, and sign and date the declaration. [53]

Where can I use a ballot drop box, and when does it close?

A drop box is a locked container from which election officials collect ballots directly; ask your county or local election office for locations. Hours are set by the state: drop boxes in California and Oregon take ballots until 8 p.m. on Election Day, while Tennessee requires absentee ballots to come back by mail. [2][18][51][58]

What is ballot curing?

It is “the process of fixing an error or providing information to an elections office when your ballot has originally been rejected for counting,” in the EAC's definition. Deadlines vary: Florida's is 5 p.m. local time on the second day after the election, and Georgia's is 5 p.m. on November 6, 2026. [2][21][22]

How do I vote by mail if I am in the military or live overseas?

Send your election office the Federal Post Card Application (Standard Form 76), which registers you and requests an absentee ballot; the Federal Voting Assistance Program recommends submitting it every year. Federal law, with a limited exception, requires states to send a ballot requested at least 45 days before a federal election by that 45th day, and the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is the backup if yours does not arrive in time. [5][6][7]

Sources

Statutes, election offices and official records anchor this explainer. Numbered references in the text link here.

  1. 01
    Absentee voting and voting by mailUSAGov (USA.gov), U.S. General Services Administration · Last updated Feb. 23, 2026; accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    The federal government's plain-language page on absentee voting and vote-by-mail: what they are, how to get a ballot in the U.S. or abroad, deadlines, and what to do if you received a mail ballot but want to vote in person.    Government / regulatory record
  2. 02
    Glossary of Election TerminologyU.S. Election Assistance Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    The EAC's glossary of nearly 1,300 election terms: definitions of absentee ballot, ballot drop box, cure and Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.    Government / regulatory record
  3. 03
    Election Administration and Voting Survey 2024 Comprehensive ReportU.S. Election Assistance Commission · Jun. 2025; accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    The EAC's survey of election offices in the 50 states, D.C. and five territories for the 2024 general election: mail voting's share of turnout, mail ballots rejected and why, ballots cured, drop boxes, and how many states required an excuse.    Government / regulatory record
  4. 04
    Election MailU.S. Postal Service · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    The Postal Service's guidance for voters who use the mail: request early, mail the completed ballot at least one week before the state's receipt deadline, how postmarks work and how to get a free manual postmark, and check your state's requirements.    Government / regulatory record
  5. 05
    Federal Post Card Application (FPCA): Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request, Standard Form 76 (Rev. 08-2026)Federal Voting Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Defense · Rev. Aug. 2026; accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    The federal form that absent uniformed-service members, their families and citizens living outside the United States use to register and request an absentee ballot. FVAP's HTML pages did not load for the fetch tool; its forms did.    Government / regulatory record
  6. 06
    Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), Standard Form 186 (Rev. 08-2026)Federal Voting Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Defense · Rev. Aug. 2026; accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    The backup ballot for military and overseas voters whose state ballot does not arrive in time.    Government / regulatory record
  7. 07
    52 U.S.C. § 20302 — State responsibilities (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act)Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Federal law requiring every state to let absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters vote absentee in federal elections, to accept the federal post card form and the federal write-in ballot, and to send requested ballots 45 days before the election.    Government / regulatory record
  8. 08
    Watson v. Republican National Committee, No. 24-1260 (slip opinion)Supreme Court of the United States · Jun. 29, 2026
    Decision that the federal election-day statutes do not bar a state from counting absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within its deadline; syllabus, line-up of the Justices and disposition.    Government / regulatory record
  9. 09
    United States Postal Service v. California, No. 26A305 (order on application for stay, with dissent)Supreme Court of the United States · Sep. 14, 2026
    The Court's order denying the government's application to stay the injunction against the Postal Service's ballot-mail rule; Justice Alito, joined by Justice Thomas, dissented.    Government / regulatory record
  10. 10
    Ballot Mail for Federal Elections, final rule (39 CFR Part 111), published at 91 FR 54966 — public-inspection copyU.S. Postal Service, via the Federal Register · Aug. 26, 2026
    The Postal Service's final rule amending the Domestic Mail Manual for mail-in and absentee ballot envelopes, effective August 21, 2026. The citation (91 FR 54966, document 2026-17238) was confirmed on federalregister.gov, where only part of the text loaded; the sentences quoted were read in this copy.    Government / regulatory record
  11. 11
    Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections (executive order)The White House · Mar. 31, 2026
    The executive order (listed under Executive Orders on whitehouse.gov) whose section 3, “United States Postal Service Rulemaking on Mail-In and Absentee Ballots,” directed the Postmaster General to begin a rulemaking within 60 days.    Government / regulatory record
  12. 12
    Supreme Court denies Trump administration's request to implement parts of rule on mail-in votingSCOTUSblog (Amy Howe) · Sep. 14, 2026
    Report on the September 14, 2026 order: the district court in Boston, the 23 states and the District of Columbia that sued, and each side's argument to the Court. Used beside the order itself.    Independent reporting
  13. 13
    Election Calendar - Division of ElectionsAlaska Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Alaska's election calendar: absentee by-mail application deadline, postmark rule and the dates by which mailed ballots must arrive.    Government / regulatory record
  14. 14
    Secretary of State Wes Allen Announces Start of Absentee Voting in AlabamaAlabama Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Alabama Secretary of State's announcement of the start of absentee voting: application deadlines by mail and in person and the noon Election Day receipt deadline for mailed ballots.    Government / regulatory record
  15. 15
    2026 Voter GuideAlabama Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Alabama's 2026 Voter Guide: who may vote absentee, the notary-or-two-witnesses requirement and the hand-delivery deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  16. 16
    Arizona Secretary of State Election Calendar 2025-2026Arizona Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Arizona Secretary of State's 2025-2026 election calendar: the October 23 ballot-by-mail request deadline and the November 8 signature-cure deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  17. 17
    Early Voting Procedures | Arizona Secretary of StateArizona Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Arizona Secretary of State's early-voting procedures: the 5:00 p.m. cutoff for requests and the 7:00 p.m. Election Day delivery deadline, including official ballot drop-off sites.    Government / regulatory record
  18. 18
    Vote By Mail :: California Secretary of StateCalifornia Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    California Secretary of State's vote-by-mail page: ballots are mailed to all active registered voters; postmark-and-seven-days rule; drop box and in-person return by 8:00 p.m.    Government / regulatory record
  19. 19
    November 3, 2026, General Election CalendarCalifornia Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    California's November 3, 2026 general election calendar: the 5:00 p.m. November 25 deadline to verify or provide a signature.    Government / regulatory record
  20. 20
    Election Dates and Activities Calendar – 2026 Election CycleFlorida Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Florida Division of Elections' 2026 calendar: deadline to request that a vote-by-mail ballot be mailed and the 7 p.m. Election Day receipt deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  21. 21
    Vote-by-Mail - Division of Elections - Florida Department of StateFlorida Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Florida Division of Elections' vote-by-mail page: the cure affidavit for a missing or mismatched signature and its deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  22. 22
    2026 ELECTION CALENDAR AND HIGHLIGHTSGeorgia Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Georgia Secretary of State's 2026 election calendar: last day to request an absentee-by-mail ballot and the absentee ballot cure deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  23. 23
    An Overview of Georgia's Absentee Voting Process: A Guide for Registered Voters (Rev. 3/30/22)Georgia Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Georgia Secretary of State's guide to absentee voting (Rev. 3/30/22, still linked from current pages): absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls.    Government / regulatory record
  24. 24
    Voter Ready | A Guide To Voting In IowaIowa Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Iowa Secretary of State's Voter Ready guide: deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot and the received-by deadline on Election Day.    Government / regulatory record
  25. 25
    Candidate's Guide to the General Election November 3, 2026Iowa Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Iowa Secretary of State's candidate's guide, whose calendar lists the last moment to fix an incomplete absentee affidavit envelope.    Government / regulatory record
  26. 26
    Upcoming Election Summary - State Board of ElectionsKentucky State Board of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Kentucky State Board of Elections' election summary: last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot, receipt deadline, and drop boxes in each county.    Government / regulatory record
  27. 27
    Eligibility for Absentee Voting - State Board of ElectionsKentucky State Board of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Kentucky State Board of Elections' list of voters eligible for a mail-in absentee ballot.    Government / regulatory record
  28. 28
    2026 ELECTIONS (DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY THE LEGISLATURE) Revised 11/2024Louisiana Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Louisiana Secretary of State's 2026 elections calendar: deadlines to request a mail ballot and for the registrar to receive it. Read on Sep. 17, 2026 at the office's earlier address (…/ElectionsAndVoting/PublishedDocuments/ElectionsCalendar2026.pdf), which no longer resolves; the link now goes to the office's current page on the subject (checked Sep. 18, 2026).    Government / regulatory record
  29. 29
    Vote AbsenteeLouisiana Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Louisiana Secretary of State's absentee-voting page: a reason is required, and the 4:30 p.m. times for requests and returned ballots. The state file notes the page reached was an archived copy whose times agree with La. R.S. 18:1307 and 18:1308. Read on Sep. 17, 2026 at the office's earlier address (…/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/VoteByMail/Pages/default.aspx), which no longer resolves; the link now goes to the office's current page on the subject (checked Sep. 18, 2026).    Government / regulatory record
  30. 30
    Application for Absentee Ballot (November 3, 2026 General Election; linked on the Upcoming Elections page as Mail-In Ballot Request Form)Maine Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Maine's absentee ballot application for November 3, 2026: request and return deadlines.    Government / regulatory record
  31. 31
    Absentee votingMichigan Department of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Michigan Department of State's absentee voting page: every registered voter may vote by mail; application and return deadlines; online tracking.    Government / regulatory record
  32. 32
    August-November 2026 Election DatesMichigan Department of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Michigan's August-November 2026 election dates: the 4 p.m. November 2 deadline to apply in person and the 5 p.m. November 6 deadline to cure the signature on an absentee ballot return envelope.    Government / regulatory record
  33. 33
    How to VoteMissouri Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Missouri Secretary of State's How to Vote page: reasons required for absentee voting by mail and the request deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  34. 34
    FAQs Other Voting QuestionsMissouri Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Missouri Secretary of State's voting FAQ: absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls.    Government / regulatory record
  35. 35
    Voting by Absentee Ballot - Official Montana Secretary of State Website - Christi JacobsenMontana Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Montana Secretary of State's absentee voting page: any registered voter may vote absentee; application and return deadlines.    Government / regulatory record
  36. 36
    Ballot Rejection Notice-Absentee or Mail Ballot Signature Verification or Submission of Missing Signature 13-13-245, MCA (2025-10)Montana Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Montana's ballot rejection notice for a missing signature or birth year or a signature that does not match: how and by when to fix it.    Government / regulatory record
  37. 37
    Upcoming Election | NCSBENorth Carolina State Board of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    North Carolina State Board of Elections' upcoming-election page: absentee ballot request deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  38. 38
    Detailed Instructions to Vote By MailNorth Carolina State Board of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    North Carolina State Board of Elections' detailed instructions to vote by mail: receipt deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  39. 39
    2026 Official Election Calendar, State of Nebraska (Primary Election: May 12, 2026; General Election: November 3, 2026)Nebraska Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Nebraska's 2026 official election calendar: last day to apply for a mailed early voting ballot and the receipt deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  40. 40
    Section 657:15 Sending Absentee Ballots.New Hampshire General Court · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    New Hampshire RSA 657:15: the clerk mails absentee ballots for requests received by noon the day before the election and provides them in person until 5:00 p.m. that day.    Government / regulatory record
  41. 41
    Absentee Ballots | New Hampshire Secretary of StateNew Hampshire Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    New Hampshire Secretary of State's absentee ballots page: absentee voting is for specific reasons; return deadlines; tracking through the Voter Information Lookup.    Government / regulatory record
  42. 42
    2026 General Election TimelineNew Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    New Jersey's 2026 general election timeline: mail-in ballot application deadlines, the drop box deadline and the cure-form deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  43. 43
    NEW JERSEY GENERAL ELECTION 2026 (3 Ways To Vote Flyer)New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    New Jersey Division of Elections' 2026 general election flyer: a mailed ballot must be postmarked by 8:00 p.m. November 3 and received by November 9.    Government / regulatory record
  44. 44
    Election Guide, Clark County, NV (November 3, 2026 General Election)Clark County Election Department · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Clark County Election Department's guide to the November 3, 2026 general election: the postmark and receipt rule for mailed ballots.    Government / regulatory record
  45. 45
    Voting by MailWashoe County Registrar of Voters · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Washoe County Registrar of Voters' voting-by-mail page: every active registered voter is mailed a ballot unless the voter opted out.    Government / regulatory record
  46. 46
    Signature CuringWashoe County Registrar of Voters · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Washoe County Registrar of Voters' signature-curing page: the deadline to cure a mail ballot.    Government / regulatory record
  47. 47
    Absentee Ballot Application — Form 11-A Prescribed by the Ohio Secretary of State (06/2026)Ohio Secretary of State (form served from the county boards of elections' shared boe.ohio.gov site) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Ohio's absentee ballot application, Form 11-A (06/2026), prescribed by the Secretary of State: application and ballot receipt deadlines and online tracking.    Government / regulatory record
  48. 48
    Voting in the November 3, 2026 General Election (November 2026 - Election Calendar)Hamilton County Board of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Hamilton County Board of Elections' November 2026 election calendar: applications accepted until 8:30 p.m. on October 27.    Government / regulatory record
  49. 49
    Oklahoma State Election Board (0270)Oklahoma State Election Board · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Oklahoma State Election Board home page: deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November election.    Government / regulatory record
  50. 50
    Standard Absentee VotersOklahoma State Election Board · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Oklahoma State Election Board's standard absentee voters page: any registered voter may apply; notarized affidavit; return deadlines; tracking in the OK Voter Portal.    Government / regulatory record
  51. 51
    2026 Elections CalendarOregon Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Oregon Secretary of State's 2026 elections calendar: ballots mailed October 14–20; postmark rule; drop box deadline; last day to resolve ballot challenges.    Government / regulatory record
  52. 52
    Oregon Secretary of State : Voting in Oregon : State of OregonOregon Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Oregon Secretary of State's Voting in Oregon page: active registered voters receive a ballot without asking; return by mail or official drop box.    Government / regulatory record
  53. 53
    Mail-in and Absentee Ballot | Voting & Election Information | Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Department of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Pennsylvania Department of State's mail-in and absentee ballot page: who may apply, application and receipt deadlines, envelope instructions and tracking.    Government / regulatory record
  54. 54
    2026 Election Calendar (scVOTES)South Carolina State Election Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    South Carolina State Election Commission's 2026 election calendar: deadline to apply for an absentee ballot.    Government / regulatory record
  55. 55
    Prep for the 2026 Statewide General Election - SC Votes - South Carolina Election CommissionSouth Carolina State Election Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    South Carolina State Election Commission's page on preparing for the 2026 general election: receipt deadline and mail-early advice.    Government / regulatory record
  56. 56
    Absentee Voting - SC Votes - South Carolina Election CommissionSouth Carolina State Election Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    South Carolina State Election Commission's absentee voting page: the list headed “Who can vote absentee?” and online tracking.    Government / regulatory record
  57. 57
    Key Dates for the 2026 Election CycleTennessee Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Tennessee Secretary of State's key dates for 2026: absentee ballot request deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  58. 58
    Guide to Absentee VotingTennessee Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Tennessee Secretary of State's guide to absentee voting: the categories of voters who may vote by mail; ballots must come back by mail by the close of polls.    Government / regulatory record
  59. 59
    Apply for a Mail-in Ballot in Texas | VoteTexas.govTexas Secretary of State (VoteTexas.gov) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    VoteTexas.gov's application-for-ballot-by-mail page: last day the application can be received.    Government / regulatory record
  60. 60
    Important Election DatesTexas Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Texas Secretary of State's important election dates: deadline to receive a ballot by mail.    Government / regulatory record
  61. 61
    Voting by Mail Eligibility Requirements | VoteTexas.govTexas Secretary of State (VoteTexas.gov) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    VoteTexas.gov's eligibility page: the categories of voters who may vote by mail in Texas.    Government / regulatory record
  62. 62
    Correcting an Application or Carrier EnvelopeTexas Secretary of State (VoteTexas.gov) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    VoteTexas.gov's corrective-action page: how and by when to correct a defect in a mail-ballot application or carrier envelope.    Government / regulatory record
  63. 63
    Elections | Village of ClevelandVillage of Cleveland, Village Clerk · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Village of Cleveland (Wisconsin) clerk's elections page: deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail.    Government / regulatory record
  64. 64
    Absentee VotingCity of Appleton, City Clerk · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    City of Appleton (Wisconsin) clerk's absentee voting page: receipt deadline.    Government / regulatory record
  65. 65
    2026 Key Election DatesWyoming Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Wyoming Secretary of State's 2026 key election dates: when an absentee ballot may be requested.    Government / regulatory record
  66. 66
    Absentee Voting in WyomingWyoming Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
    Wyoming Secretary of State's absentee voting page: receipt deadline.    Government / regulatory record

Reviewed . This explainer is general civic information, not legal advice. Election rules change; the official page linked beside each rule is the authority, and the date above is when those pages were last read.