Nothing seems usual about these political times, but one thing has changed: more states than ever now allow for voting by mail.Eight states and districts send mail-in ballots to all registered voters. Twenty-eight states offer no-excuse absentee voting, which means you can request and receive a mail-in ballot without having to provide a reason. In the rest of the states, you can request an absentee ballot for various reasons, whether it’s because of travel, health, or other reasons. Here’s what you need to know. Does My State Offer Mail-In Voting?If you live in California, Colorado, D.C., Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, you should receive a mail-in ballot by default if you’re a registered voter. Check the status of your voter registration well before Election Day. What States Offer No-Excuse Absentee Voting?The National Conference of State Legislatures has a complete and updated list of states with no-excuse absentee voting. As of now they are Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Am I Eligible to Get an Absentee Ballot in My State If It Is Not on These Lists?For all other states, the National Conference of State Legislatures has a list of states with reasons they will allow absentee ballots. How Do I Get a Ballot?For details on your state, go to this Can I Vote absentee ballot page from the National Association of Secretaries of State and select your state from the drop-down menu.
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You can also go to Vote.org’s absentee ballot request page. The site also has a list of absentee ballot application deadlines.What If I’m in the Military or Live Overseas?The United States Election Assistance Commission has everything you need to know.
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About Chandra Steele
Senior Features Writer
My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme. I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.
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