Vote By Mail 101
Thanks to the National Vote At Home Institute for providing this FAQ!
What is voting at home?
Sometimes called voting by mail or absentee voting, Voting at Home is when voters have their ballots delivered to them.
Each state has their own Vote at Home regulations that range from universal Vote at Home (every active registered voter automatically delivered a ballot) to No Excuse (you can request one for any reason, either for one election at a time or longer) and Excuse Required (need a specific reason to have a ballot delivered, from a list of excuses that’s different in each of the 14 states).
However your state works, your ballot is delivered to your mailing address, so you can study and research and complete it at home, then return it by mail or in person to a secure ballot drop box or elections office.
Can I vote at home in my state?
Each state has their own Vote at Home regulations, but the general eligibility structure is one of four categories:
● Universal Vote at Home States: Every active registered voter automatically gets a ballot delivered for every election.
● No Excuse States: Voters may request a ballot to be delivered for any reason but must renew that request for every election.
● Single Sign Up States: Voters may sign up one time to receive automatic delivery of a ballot for every election.
● Excuse Required States: Voters must provide a specific excuse from a list of reasons that vary by state to have a ballot delivered.
Voting laws are always changing so make sure you have the most recent information about mail ballot use in your state.
How do I request my ballot?
Most states allow you to request your ballot online; other options are by email, fax, USPS mail, or in person at your local election office.
When should I request my ballot?
You can request your ballot whenever you want! Each state has their own deadline for mail ballot requests, so our motto is: the earlier the better.
If you’re wondering where your ballot is, remember that ballots aren’t dispatched immediately after the request is submitted. State’s have their own timeline of when they send ballots to voters
Do I need an ID to vote at home?
Depending on your state, you may need an ID to request your mail ballot. Some states require a copy of your ID the first time you request a mail ballot while others may require an ID number for each request.
Do I need a witness or a notary to vote at home?
A few states do require a witness or notary signature. Find out if that’s you.
How will I know what happened to my ballot?
You can track your ballot just like you track a purchase.
Most states have ballot tracking that allows you to track the status of your ballot throughout the process: when it is dispatched from the elections office, when it arrives at your mailing address, when it is received by the elections office, and when it has been accepted and counted. Some states make you sign up for ballot tracking, and others ask you to sign up.
You can also contact your local election office with specific questions about your ballot.
What if there's an issue with my ballot?
If there’s an issue with your ballot, most states have a curing process where you’ll be notified and able to correct it.
Each state has their own process and deadlines for curing, so it’s a good idea to make sure they have your contact information in case its needed.
We recommend signing up for ballot tracking so you’ll know right away if there’s an issue with your ballot. You can also contact your local election office with questions about your ballot.
