Table 5: Applying for an Absentee Ballot, Including Third-Party Registration Drives

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Voting Outside the Polling Place Report
This table is part of NCSL’s Voting Outside the Polling Place report.

How voters may submit absentee/mail ballot applications varies by state. All states will permit a voter to submit an application by mail (usually via an official application form, which may be available online for download) or in person at a local election official’s office. Many states also allow applications by email (usually with a scanned application). In general, most states require the request to be in writing. Some states offer additional options, such as online portals or requests by phone, as well.

In order to have enough time to receive an absentee/mail ballot application, verify the information and send the ballot out, election officials usually need to receive absentee ballot applications a week or more before the election. Some states have statutory deadlines for applications closer to the election, but if a voter applies too close it’s possible there may not be enough turnaround time to receive the ballot in the mail. In emergency cases, however, absentee ballots can be requested after these deadlines.

Sixteen states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands have statutory deadlines for absentee/mail ballot applications that are more than seven days before the election:

Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virgin Islands and Virginia.

Eight states set their statutory deadlines for absentee/mail ballot applications at seven days (one week) before the election:

Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

Eighteen states have statutory deadlines for absentee/mail ballot applications that are fewer than seven days before the election:

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The remaining eight states and Washington, D.C. conduct mostly-mail elections.

Applying for an Absentee Ballot
State	Statute	Eligibility	Application Deadlines	Application Submission Methods
Alabama	Ala. Code §17-11-3 §17-11-4	Excuse required.	Applications by mail: Seven days before the elections Applications returned in-person: Five days before the election.	Mail, in-person.
Alaska	Alaska Stat. §15.20.081	Anyone.	Applications by mail: Ten days before the election. Electronically delivered applications: 5 p.m. the day before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Arizona	Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-542	Anyone.	Eleven days before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, online, phone.
Arkansas	Ark. Code § 7-5-404	Excuse required.	Applications returned by mail or electronically: seven days before the election. Applications returned in-person: The Friday before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
California		Ballots are delivered to all voters.	N/A	N/A
Colorado		Ballots are delivered to all voters.	N/A	N/A
Connecticut	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-140	Excuse required.	The day before the election. If faxing or emailing application, the original application form must be received by close of polls on Election Day or the mail-ballot will not count.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Delaware	15 Del. Code § 5503	Excuse required.	The day before the election at noon.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
District of Columbia		N/A	Ballots are delivered to all voters.	N/A
Florida	Fla. Stat. Ann. §101.62	Anyone.	Ten days before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online, phone.
Georgia	Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-381, § 21-2-385	Anyone.	Eleven days before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Hawaii		Ballots are delivered to all voters.	N/A	N/A
Idaho	Idaho Code § 34-1002	Anyone.	Application for mail-in absentee ballot: Eleven days before the election at 5 p.m. Application for in-person absentee voting in a polling place: The Friday before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Illinois	10 ILCS 5/19-2 et seq.	Anyone.	Application returned by mail or electronically: Five days before the election, Application returned in-person: The day before the election.	Mail, in-person, email.
Indiana	Ind. Code § 3-11-4-2, § 3-11-4-3	Excuse required.	Twelve days before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Iowa	Iowa Code § 53.2	Anyone.	Fifteen days before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person.
Kansas	Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-1122, § 25-1128	Anyone.	The Tuesday before the election. For presidential preference primary only: 30 days before the election.	Mail, in-person, fax.
Kentucky	Ky. Rev. Stat § 117.085	Excuse required.	Fourteen days before the election.	Online.
Louisiana	La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1307 et seq.	Excuse required.	Four days before the election at 4:30 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Maine	21-A Me. Rev. Stat. A. § 753-B	Anyone.	Three business days before the election.	Mail, in-person, fax, phone, online.
Maryland	Md. Election Law Code, § 9-305 COMAR 33.11.02.01(D)(2)	Anyone.	For requests that the ballot be sent by mail or faxed: The Tuesday before the election. For requests that the ballot be sent by the internet: The Friday before the election. For in-person requests: Election Day.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Massachusetts	Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54 § 89	Anyone.	Five business days before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Michigan	Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.759	Anyone.	For mail ballot requests: Applications returned in person for ballots to be cast at the clerks office: 4 p.m. on the day before Election Day.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Minnesota	Minn. Stat. § 203B.04	Anyone.	The day before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Mississippi	Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-625, § 23-15-627	Excuse required.	Not specified.	Mail, in-person, phone.
Missouri	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.279	Anyone.	The second Wednesday before the election; the day before the election at 5 p.m. for in-person requests.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Montana	Mont. Code Ann § 13-13-211, § 13-13-212	Anyone.	The day before the election at noon.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Nebraska	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-941	Anyone.	The second Friday before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Nevada		Ballots are delivered to all voters.	N/A	N/A
New Hampshire	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §657:4, §657:15	Excuse required.	For requests by mail, email or fax: The day before the election at noon. For in-person requests: The day before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
New Jersey	N.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:63-3	Anyone.	For applications returned by mail: Seven days before the election. For applications returned in-person: The day before the election at 3 p.m..	Mail, in-person.
New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann., § 1-6-5	Anyone.	Fourteen days before the election.	Mail, in-person, online.
New York	N.Y. Elec. Law § 8-400	Excuse required.	Applications for mail ballot through online application or mail: Ten days before the election. For in-person requests: The day before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
North Carolina	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-228, § 163-230.1	Anyone.	The second Tuesday before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
North Dakota	N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-07-05, § 16.1-07-07	Anyone.	“In a timely manner” for mailed-out ballots; Election Day at 4 p.m. for in-person requests.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Ohio	Ohio Rev. Code § 3509.03	Anyone.	Seven days before the election by close of business.	Mail, in-person.
Oklahoma	26 Okla. Stat. Ann. § 14-103, § 14-105, § 14-115.1	Anyone.	The third Monday before an election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online
Oregon		Ballots are delivered to all voters.	N/A	N/A
Pennsylvania	25 Pa. Stat. § 3146.2 et seq.	Anyone.	The Tuesday before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, online.
Puerto Rico	16 L.P.R.A. § 4735	Excuse required.	Forty-five days before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, online.
Rhode Island	R.I. Gen. Laws §17-20-2.1	Excuse required.	Twenty-one days before the election at 4 p.m. The application will be accepted if it is postmarked by the 21st day before the election and received by the 18th day before the election,	Mail, in-person, online.
South Carolina	S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-330	Excuse required.	Eleven days before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, phone.
South Dakota	S.D. Codified Laws § 12-19-2, 12-19-2.1	Anyone.	The day before the election at 5 p.m..	Mail, in-person.
Tennessee	Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-6-202	Excuse required.	Seven days before the election. Beginning Nov. 6, 2024, applications must be returned by ten days before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Texas	Tex. Election Code Ann. §84.007	Excuse required.	Eleven days before the election at noon.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Utah		Ballots are delivered to all voters.	N/A	N/A
Vermont		Ballots are delivered to all voters. (General elections only.)	N/A	N/A
Virgin Islands	18 V.I.C. § 664	Excuse required.	For applications returned by mail or email: Fourteen working days before the election. For applications returned to the board in-person: The Monday before the election.	Mail, in-person, email.
Virginia	Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-701	Excuse required.	Eleven days before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Washington		Ballots are delivered to all voters.	N/A	N/A
West Virginia	W. Va. Code, §3-3-5	Excuse required.	Six days before the election.	Mail, in-person, email, fax.
Wisconsin	Wis. Stat. § 6.86	Anyone.	Five days before the election at 5 p.m.	Mail, in-person, email, fax, online.
Wyoming	Wyo. Stat § 22-9-104, § 22-9-105	Anyone.	The day before the election.	Mail, in-person, phone.

As part of get-out-the-vote efforts or civic engagement programs, some organizations like to assist voters in requesting and returning absentee/mail ballot applications. Some states place restrictions on these activities by prohibiting third-party groups from distributing or collecting absentee/mail ballot applications, or designate deadlines or turnaround times for groups that do this. These are often meant to encourage third-party groups to submit completed applications in a timely manner to ensure that voters receive absentee/mail ballots in a timely manner.

Sixteen states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C., place no restrictions, or do not specify restrictions, on third-party groups distributing or collecting completed absentee/mail ballot applications:

Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virgin Islands, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Eight states permit third-party groups to distribute and/or collect completed absentee/mail ballot applications, but specify deadlines or turnaround times:

Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Eighteen states restrict or prohibit third-party individuals or groups from distributing or collecting absentee/mail ballot applications:

Alabama (no restriction on distribution), Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

The remaining eight states and the District of Columbia conduct mostly-mail elections.

State	Statute	Third-Party Distribution & Collection Rules
Alabama	Ala. Code §17-11-4	Only the voter may deliver his or her own application in person. It is a felony for a third party to receive payment or gift for distributing, requesting, collecting, completing, or delivering a voter’s absentee ballot application.
Alaska	Alaska Stat. §15.20.081	Third-party groups are restricted to supplying only their own affiliated members with an application. An application may not be submitted to any intermediary that could control or delay the submission of the application or gather data on the applicant. An application may be returned by a friend, relative or associate for delivery.
Arizona	Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-542	Third parties may distribute/collect/submit applications. Applications collected by third parties must be submitted within six days of receipt, under penalty of $25 per day for each completed form withheld from submittal. Any person who knowingly fails to submit a completed early ballot request form before the submission deadline for the election immediately following the completion of the form is guilty of a class 6 felony.
Arkansas	Ark. Code § 7-5-404	Only a designated bearer, authorized agent or long-term care facility administrator of a voter may deliver absentee applications in person on behalf of voters.
California		N/A
Colorado		N/A
Connecticut	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-140	Third parties must register with town clerk before distributing five or more applications; unsolicited application mailings must meet certain criteria. No person shall pay or give any compensation to another person for distribution of absentee ballot applications.
Delaware	15 Del. Code § 5503	No restrictions specified.
District of Columbia		N/A
Florida	Fla. Stat. Ann. §101.62	voter’s immediate family or the voter’s legal guardian may request an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter.
Georgia	Ga. Code § 21-2-381, § 21-2-385	Applications may be submitted by immediate family members over 18 years old only on behalf of a physically disabled voter; proof of relationship must be provided.
Hawaii		N/A
Idaho	Idaho Code § 34-1002	No restrictions specified.
Illinois	10 ILCS 5/19-2 et seq.	Any person may produce, reproduce, distribute or return to an election authority the application for a vote-by-mail ballot. Applications must be returned to the election authority within seven days of receipt, or within two days of receipt if within two weeks of the election. Failure to turn over an application is a petty offense with a fine of $100 per application.
Indiana	Ind. Code § 3-11-4-2, § 3-11-4-3	A person handling another voter’s absentee application must indicate the date received by voter and deliver to county election board within 10 days or by the application deadline.
Iowa	Iowa Code § 53.2	Third parties, including parties, candidates and committees, may distribute and collect applications from voters but must return an application within 72 hours of completion.
Kansas	Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-1122, § 25-1128	Any person or third party may engage in distribution and collection of advance voting ballots but must deliver any application within two days of completion.
Kentucky	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.085
Louisiana	La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1307 et seq.	No person, except the immediate family of any voter, shall hand deliver more than one voter's application to vote by mail.
Maine	21-A Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 753-A, § 753-B	No restrictions on who may distribute, collect or solicit applications; immediate family members may make a request on behalf of a voter.
Maryland	Md. Election Law Code § 9-305	No restrictions specified.
Massachusetts	Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54 § 89	Family members of eligible absentee voters may apply for an absentee ballot on the voter’s behalf in person or by mail.
Michigan	Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.759	Only applicants, their immediate family or other household member may offer to return, agree to return or solicit to return an application; violation of this law is a misdemeanor.
Minnesota	Minn. Stat. § 203B.04	No restrictions on who may distribute, collect or solicit applications. Must be returned to elections office within 10 days of completion.
Mississippi	Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-625, § 23-15-627	Any person may apply for an absentee ballot on another voter’s behalf, but they must sign and print their name and address on the application. Only immediate family members of a voter may make application orally in person. No person may solicit ballot applications or absentee ballots for persons staying in any skilled nursing facility unless they are a family member or designated by the voter.
Missouri	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.279	Application delivery may only be made in person by the voter or their guardian or a relative in the second degree by consanguinity or affinity.
Montana	Mont. Code Ann. § 13-13-211, § 13-13-212, § 13-13-213	A third party or designated agent may return the application on behalf of a voter.
Nebraska	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-941	No restrictions specified.
Nevada		N/A
New Hampshire	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §657:4, §657:15	Third parties may distribute and collect absentee applications so long as they use the prescribed form and identify themselves in communication with voter.
New Jersey	N.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:63-3	No restrictions specified.
New Mexico	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-6-4.3, § 1-6-5	Third parties may distribute, collect or solicit absentee applications from voters so long as they are submitted within 48 hours of completion. A person who collects applications for mailed ballots and fails to submit them is guilty of a petty misdemeanor. A person who intentionally alters another voter’s completed application is guilty of a fourth-degree felony.
New York	N.Y. Elec. Law § 8-400	Applications may be requested by a voter’s family or household member or an authorized agent.
North Carolina	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-228, § 163-230.1	Any person or third party can distribute, collect and submit an absentee request on behalf of a voter.
North Dakota	N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-07-05, § 16.1-07-07	No restrictions on who may distribute/collect/solicit applications; although, any mailings require approval from county auditor.
Ohio	Ohio Rev. Code § 3509.03	No restrictions specified.
Oklahoma	26 Okla. Stat. Ann. § 14-103, § 14-105, § 14-115.1	Prohibited to deliver an absentee application for another voter unless they are an authorized agent of an incapacitated voter.
Oregon		N/A
Pennsylvania	25 P.S. §3146.2 et seq.	No restrictions specified.
Puerto Rico	16 L.P.R.A. § 4735	No restrictions specified.
Rhode Island	R.I. Gen. Laws §17-20-2.1	No restrictions specified.
South Carolina	S.C. Code § 7-15-330	Only immediate family or an authorized representative may request or submit an application on behalf of a voter; no third-party distribution is allowed.
South Dakota	S.D. Codified Laws § 12-19-2, §12-19-2.1	No restrictions specified.
Tennessee	Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-6-202	Only one application may be furnished to a voter by the election commission; it is a class E felony to give an application to any person and a class A misdemeanor to give an unsolicited request for application to any person.
Texas	Tex. Election Code §84.0041, §84.007	It is a felony to knowingly submit an application for a ballot by mail without the knowledge and authorization of the voter or altering the information provided by the voter on the application.
Utah		N/A
Vermont		N/A
Virgin Islands	18 V.I.C. § 664	Anyone may deliver an application on the voter’s behalf; no restrictions on who may distribute applications.
Virginia	Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-701	No restrictions specified.
Washington		N/A
West Virginia	W. Va. Code §3-3-5	Only the voter may apply for an absentee ballot in person.
Wisconsin	Wis. Stat. § 6.86	No restrictions specified.
Wyoming	Wyo. Stat. § 22-9-104 et seq.	A request for a ballot may be made on behalf of a voter by another individual as long as the required information in the application is completed and accurate.

Note: This page should be used for general informational purposes only.

Our organization does not run elections and cannot provide legal advice. If you are a voter looking for assistance, please contact your local election official. You can find your local election official's website and contact information by using this database from the US Vote Foundation.

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Brief Table 5: Applying for an Absentee Ballot, Including Third-Party Registration Drives

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