Here's a State-by-State Vote-by-Mail Process:
Alabama - A Law Passed in 2019 Requires a Copy of your Photo ID to be Submitted with an Absentee Application, in most cases you have to Submit an Application for each Election and when you fill out your Ballot it has to be Witnessed by a Notary or Two People over the age of 18, that's obviously a tricky Requirement for anyone Socially Distancing. Secretary of State, John Merrill (R), has said that concerns about the Coronavirus Count as a Valid Excuse for the upcoming Primary Runoff on July 14th. Absentee Requests must be Received by Voter's County at least Five days before the Election, and the Ballots themselves have to be Mailed Back the day before Election Day.
Alaska - Voters can Receive an Absentee Ballot without providing a Reason why they will be Unable to get to the Polls. The Democratic Party has made its Primary an All-Mail affair, but it’s unclear whether other Elections will be held entirely by Mail. That uncertainty is all the more reason to apply for an Absentee Ballot today. Absentee Requests must be Received by the State Absentee Officers at least 10 days before an Election. Voter's Ballot must be Postmarked by Election Day.
Arizona - Has something called a Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL), which allows Voters to Request Mail-In Ballots for Every Election going forward. You Don't need a Reason to get on the PEVL, and you can Look-Up where to Send the Application on Voter's Elections Department website. You can also Request No-Excuse Absentee Ballots for Individual Elections, and in some Counties, like Maricopa, you can make those Requests Online. Requests must be Received by Voter's 11 days before an Election. Ballots must be Received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Arkansas - Governor, Asa Hutchinson (R), has adopted No-Excuse Absentee Voting for some Primaries, but despite Democrats calling for that to be Expanded to the General Election, No Decision has been made there yet. Voters normally need a Reason to Request an Absentee Ballot, and it's Not Clear whether "I'm worried about the pandemic" will be a Legal Reason come November. If you are Applying by Mail, an Absentee Request must be Received Seven days before an Election. Ballots must be Received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
California - Allows Everyone to Vote-by-Mail, and has been inching toward an All-Mail System. Voters can Request to be put on a Permanent Mail-In Ballot List. Some Counties are already contemplating an All-Mail General Election in light of the Pandemic. For now, the Normal Rules apply, meaning if you want a Mail-In Ballot you need to Request one. Mail-In Applications must be Received Seven days before an Election, and Ballots must be Postmarked by Election Day and Received Three days later.
Colorado - Every Registered Voter gets a Mail-in-Ballot.
Connecticut - Has Resisted Calls to go to a No-Excuse System, and Voting-by-Mail is Available only to People who have a Reason to need it. Those with Permanent Disabilities can be Put on a Permanent Absentee Voter List. Applications must be Received by Voter's Town Clerk the Day before the Election, and Ballots must be Received by the Close of Polls on Election Day.
Delaware - Requires Voters to give a Reason to get an Absentee Ballot, but the Legislature is Pushing to Loosen those Requirements in time for November. In the Primary Elections, which have been pushed back to June 2nd, Anyone can Vote Absentee. Delaware Allows Voters to Request Absentee Ballots via an Online Form. Applications must be Received by the day before the Election. Ballots must be in by the Close of Polls on Election Day.
Florida - County Officials are Warning the State isn't Equipped to Handle an All-Mail Election in November, should it come to that. But at least Anyone can Request an Absentee Ballot without a Reason, and those Requests can be made on County Websites. Requests must be in 10 days before an Election, and the Ballot must be Received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Georgia - Allows No-Excuse Absentee Voting, and Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger (R), responded to the Pandemic by Mailing Absentee Applications to All State's Voters for the May 19th Primary. Georgia asks Absentee Voters to Pay for Postage, a Requirement that is being Challenged in a Lawsuit that claims it amounts to a Poll Tax. Applications must be Received the Friday before an Election, and Ballots must be in by the Close of the Polls on Election Day.
Hawaii - Every Registered Voter gets a Mail-in Ballot.
Idaho - Upcoming Primary Election will be Mail-Only. Idahoans will Still have to Request Absentee Ballots in order to Vote, they can do so Online, with No-Excuse Absentee Voting. Applications must be Received 11 days before the Election.
Illinois - Offers No-Excuse Absentee Voting, and a Record Number of People in Cook County Voted by Mail during the March Primary, offering a Preview of a November Election that will likely be conducted heavily through the Mail. Applications must be Received Five days before the Election and Ballots must be in by Election Day.
Indiana - Moved back its Primary Date to June 2nd and will Allow Anyone to Vote by Mail. As of now, its Normal Restrictions on Mail-In Ballots remain in place for November, meaning you'll need a Reason to get One, but Anyone can Vote Absentee In-Person, which is an Option if you want to Avoid the Election Day Crowds. Applications must be in 12 days before the Election, and Absentee In-Person Voting begins 28 days before Election Day.
Iowa - Is sending All Voters Absentee Applications in Advance of the June 2nd Primary, and the State also offers No-Excuse Absentee voting. Applications must be Received 10 days before the Election, and Ballots must be Postmarked the Monday before Election Day.
Kansas The Democratic Party is sending Ballots to All its Voters and Conducting an All-Mail Election. While an All-Mail General Election is unlikely, at least the State allows No-Excuse Absentee Voting, which Kansas calls "Advance Voting." Applications must be Received a Week before the Election, and Ballots must be Postmarked by Election Day and Received No later than Three days afterward.
Kentucky - Governor, Andy Beshear (D), has said he wants the State to consider an All-Mail Primary Election in June. But as it stands, Kentucky Voters need a Reason to Request an Absentee Ballot. Applications must be in a Week before the Election and Ballots must be Received by 6 p.m. on Election Day.
Louisiana - Has been hit by the Pandemic especially hard, and its Election Officials have reached out to their Counterparts in Washington State, which already Conducts Elections entirely by Mail, for advice on what to do. But Louisiana is a long way from being able to hold Elections by Mail, since it currently doesn't allow No-Excuse Absentee Voting. It does allow Eligible Voters to apply Online. Applications must be submitted Four days before an Election, and Ballots must be Received the Night before Election Day in many cases.
Maine - Moved its Scheduled Primary back to July 14th, and looking ahead to November, it does allow No-Excuse Absentee Voting. Applications must be received by the Third Business day before an Election. All Ballots must be Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Maryland - Seventh Congressional District is holding the State's First-ever Mail-Only Election on April 28th to Replace Congressman Elijah Cummings, who died in Office last October. It remains to be seen if the entire State uses that System in November, but it already has a No-Excuse Absentee System that includes a way for People to apply Online. Applications must be Received a week before an Election. Ballots must be Postmarked by Election Day and Received 10 days later.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) has touted a Plan that would Require All States to move to a Vote-by-Mail System, but her Home State has Not Adopted No-Excuse Absentee Voting. A Passed New Law, however, that Clarifies that taking Precautions against COVID-19 Counts as a Valid Reason to get an Absentee Ballot. Applications must be Received by the day before an Election, and Ballots must be Received by the Close of the Polls on Election Day.
Michigan - Is a No-Excuse Absentee Voting State, and Officials are Mailing Absentee Applications, to All Registered Voters in Advance of a May Election. Requests must be Received the Friday before an Election, and Ballots must be Received by the End of Election Day.
Minnesota - Election Officials are asking the State to look at going to an All-Mail System, but Republican Legislators Oppose Expanding Mail Voting on the usual grounds that it will supposedly Lead to Increased Fraud. But at least the State has No-Excuse Absentee Voting, and also lets People apply via Email. Applications are due the day before the Election and Ballots must be Received by the Close of Polls on Election Day.
Mississippi - Strict Absentee Voting System, which doesn't allow No-Excuse Voting, has come under Criticism before. In 2018, the State was Sued for Not giving Voters enough Time to Fill Out and get their Ballots Notarized during a Runoff Election. There's No Sign it is moving to a Vote-by-Mail System in 2020. Ballots must be Received the day before Election Day.
Missouri - Officials are Discussing how they might deal with Voting in a Pandemic, which might include Loosening its Restrictions on Absentee Ballots. For now, you need a Reason to Request Permission to Vote-by-Mail. Applications must be Received by the Second Wednesday before the Election, and Ballots must be Received by Election Day.
Montana - Made its June 2nd Primary an All-Mail Election, and it already Allowed for No-Excuse Absentee Voting. Applications must be Received the day before the Election and Ballots must be Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Nebraska - Governor, Pete Ricketts (R), has Suspended In-Person Early Voting and is encouraging Nebraskans to Vote-by-Mail in the May 12th Primary, which they can because the State Allows No-Excuse Absentee Voting. Some Counties have already Adopted All-Mail Elections. Applications must be Received by the Second Friday before an Election and the Ballot must be Received by the Close of Polls on Election Day.
Nevada - Is Conducting its June 9th Primary mostly by Mail. It also has No-Excuse Absentee Voting, and offers to put People on a Permanent Absentee Voter List. Applications must be Received Two Weeks before an Election, and Ballots must be in by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
New Hampshire - Normally requires Voters to provide a Reason to Vote-by-Mail, but this week Officials announced that the State would Allow No-Excuse Absentee Voting in this year's Elections, including the November General Election. Applications must be in the Day before an Election and the Ballot must be Returned by Election Day.
New Jersey - Governor, Phil Murphy (D), has pushed back the Primary Election to July 7th in part to Help Officials prepare for a Potential All-Mail Election. It already has No-Excuse Absentee Voting in place. Applications must be Received a Week before the Election, and Ballots must be Received by the End of Election Day.
New Mexico - Republicans in New Mexico are Suing to Stop the Implementation of an All-Mail Primary Election, setting up a Battle that could mirror what took place in Wisconsin. Regardless of the outcome of that Court Case, New Mexico allows No-Excuse Absentee Voting, and lets Voters to Apply Online. Applications must be Received Four days before an Election, and Ballots must be in by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
New York - Governor, Andrew Cuomo (D), has instituted No-Excuse Absentee Voting for June 23rd Primary Elections in response to the Coronavirus. Currently it is an Excuse Absentee Ballot State. If Voters Pass No-Excuse Absentee Ballot in November 2020, it would start in 2021. Applications must be received seven days before an election and ballots must be Received by the End of Election Day.
North Carolina - The Board of Elections has asked Lawmakers to consider Measures to make it Easier to Vote by Mail, including Creating an Online Portal for Absentee Applications. Since Republicans Control both Houses of the Legislature, it's unclear how likely Changes are. The State does offer No-Excuse Absentee Voting already, though it requires Ballots to be Witnessed by Two People or a Notary. Applications must be Received the Tuesday before an Election, and Ballots must be in by 5 p.m. on Election Day.
North Dakota - A Majority of North Dakota Counties already Run All-Mail Elections, and Anyone can get an Absentee Ballot through an Online Application. Ballots must be Postmarked the day before the Election and Received Six days after Election Day.
Ohio - Is One of the States conducting an All-Absentee Primary. It is allowing People to Pick Up Applications in Grocery Stores. It also has No-Excuse Absentee Voting and Online Applications. Applications must be Received Three days before an Election, and Ballots must be Received by Election Day.
Oklahoma - Has No-Excuse Absentee Voting and Online Applications, but it also Requires Ballots to be Notarized or Witnessed, a Requirement Reform Advocates are trying to Change as States consider Voting-by-Mail more closely. Applications must be Received by the Wednesday before an Election, and Ballots must be in by 7 p.m. the day before Election Day.
Oregon - Every Registered Voter gets a Mail-In Ballot already.
Pennsylvania - In October, 2019, Passed a Law Reforming its Election System that included No-Excuse Absentee Voting, which turned out to be extremely timely. Voters can Apply for a Mail-In Ballot Online. Applications must be Received a Week before the Election, and Ballots must be in by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Rhode Island - Has pushed back its Primary to June 2nd and appears to be Preparing for an All-Mail or Mostly-Mail Election by Sending a Mail-In Ballot Application to All Voters. Anyone can Apply for a Mail Ballot. Applications must be Received 21 days before an Election, and Ballots must be Received by Election Day.
South Carolina Is reportedly considering Loosening its Restrictions on Vote-by-Mail for its June 9th Primary, but even if it did so its unclear what that would mean for the November General Election. It remains a State where Only those who meet certain Requirements can Vote-by-Mail, anyone over 65 can get an Absentee Ballot. Applications must be Received Four days before the Election, and Ballots must be Received by the End of Election Day.
South Dakota - Is Mailing Absentee Ballot Applications to All Voters in Advance of, the June 2nd Primary Election, in Response to the Pandemic. Its ordinary No-Excuse Absentee Voting Rules will be in Effect in November even if it doesn't do something similar for the General Election. Applications must be Received the day before the Election, and Ballots must be Received by the End of Election Day.
Tennessee - Which is likely to Proceed with its Local Elections and Primaries in August 6th, is One of the States that Restricts Absentee Access. Anyone over 60 can Vote-by-Mail, but Younger Voters must have a Valid Reason. The State does provide Early Voting to Everyone, however, which could be a useful Alternative for those concerned about the Pandemic in November. Requests for Mail-In Ballots must be Received a Week before the Election, while Ballots must be in by Election Day.
Texas - State Officials have been saying that Local Elections scheduled for May should be Postponed, but Not All Cities and Towns have done so. Meanwhile, the Texas Democratic Party is Suing the State to widen Access to Absentee Ballots, which are currently Available Only to Voters who are 65 or Older, are Disabled, or have another Reason they can't Vote In-Person. Applications must be Received 11 days before the Election, and the Deadline for Ballots themselves is Election Day.
Utah - Every Registered Voter gets a Mail-in Ballot already.
Vermont - Has Changed its Elections Procedures already by now Allowing Candidates to Run for Office Without Collecting Signatures, a tricky Proposition in the age of Social Distancing. Officials might make further Changes by November, including Mailing a Ballot to Every Registered Voter. The State already allows No-Excuse Absentee Voting and lets you Apply for a Ballot Online. Applications must be Received by the day before the Election, while Ballots are Due by Election Day.
Virginia Recently came under Democratic Control, has just Passed a Suite of Reforms designed to make it Easier to Vote. Election Day is now a Holiday, and Everyone can Vote Absentee without an Excuse, though First-Time Voters have to Cast their Ballot In-Person. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Elections has said that Concerns about Coronavirus Count as an Excuse to Vote-by-Mail in the June 23rd Elections. Voters can apply Online. Mail Applications must be Received Seven days before the Election and Ballots must be Received by the End of Election Day.
Washington - Every Registered Voter gets a Mail-In Ballot already.
Washington, D.C. - The D.C. Board of Elections has been Criticized for its Lack of Competence, but at least it is Encouraging Voters to Cast Ballots by Mail in its upcoming June 2nd Primary. The Capital allows Anyone to Request an Absentee Ballot. Applications must be Received Seven days before the Election. Ballots must be Postmarked by Election Day and Received No more than Seven days later.
West Virginia - Is among the States sending Absentee Applications to All Registered Voters. But ordinarily, the State Restricts Absentee Access to those who can't Vote-in-Person. It remains to be seen what the State will do in November. Applications must be Received Six days before the Election, and Ballots must be Received by the End of Election Day or else Postmarked by Election Day and Received No More than Five days later.
Wisconsin - There's still time for Officials to move to a more Mail-Friendly System in November if one is Required. The State Allows No-Excuse Absentee Voting and lets Voters to Apply via Email. Applications must be Received Five days before the Election and Ballots must be in by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Wyoming Political Parties made Changes to their Primary Procedures to Reduce In-Person Contact, and Wyoming already Allows No-Excuse Absentee Voting and Early Voting. Applications must be Received by the Day before the Election, while Ballots are Due by Election Day.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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