How to vote if you’re traveling on Election Day
Find out if you can vote early IRL or get an absentee ballot.
The 2022 midterm elections are coming up on November 8, and voting this year feels more important than ever. The public will choose who will represent each state in both the House and the Senate, potentially swinging which political party will control Congress through 2024. And that doesn’t even cover local positions like mayors and state judges, whose influence affects cities and neighborhoods on even more personal levels.
While many Americans will show up in person to vote on Election Day (find your polling place here), there are plenty of options for people who cannot physically make it to the polls. Whether you are a student away at college or off taking a much-needed vacation, you can choose to vote early in person or send an absentee ballot from anywhere in the world.
Although every U.S. state allows some form of absentee voting, the rules vary when it comes to deadlines and requirements. Here, we’ve broken down the specific rules for all 50 states—in general, the sooner you can make your arrangements, the better.
Alabama
Alabama does not offer in-person early voting.
Absentee ballot applications need to be printed and sent to your county’s Absentee Election Manager (list here). Applications returned by mail must be received no later than seven days before the election (Nov. 1), while applications returned by hand must be received no later than five days before the election (Nov. 3.).
When your application is approved, you will be sent a ballot, which must be filled out and either notarized or signed by two witnesses. Ballots returned by mail must be received by the Absentee Election Manager by noon on Election Day; ballots returned in person must be received by 5 p.m. on November 7.
Alaska
Alaska offers early in-person voting, which began as early as October 24 in many cities. You can find your specific polling location and open hours here.
To request an absentee ballot, Alaska residents can use the Online Absentee Ballot Application or print, complete, and sign the PDF Fillable form. The latter can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the Absentee Office. The deadline for mailed applications has passed, you can still fax or submit your application online until 5 p.m. on November 7.
When you receive your absentee ballot, it must be printed, filled out, and signed by one witness. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, and they must be received within 10 days after Election Day when mailed from within the U.S. or 15 days if mailed from outside the U.S.
Arizona
Arizona lets citizens vote early in person between October 12 through November 4. Be sure to double-check the dates and times for your specific county.
The ballot-by-mail request deadline has already passed, and ballots must be received by county election officials by 7 p.m. on Election Day. The state’s website recommends postmarking ballots by November 1 to ensure they arrive on time.
Arkansas
Arkansas offers early voting. In most counties, early voting is conducted at the county clerk’s office—contact your office for specific hours and information.
Absentee ballot applications can be downloaded online, then printed and either mailed in or returned in person to your county clerk. Mailed-in applications must be received seven days before the election (Nov. 1); if dropped off in person, the application must be received by closing hours the Friday before the election (Nov. 4).
Ballots can be printed and mailed to your clerk’s office—they must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 8), so the earlier you can have them postmarked, the better.
California
California citizens can vote early in person, but dates and times vary by county. You can find information for your county on the state department’s website.
In California, all active registered voters automatically receive mail-in ballots for the midterm elections. You can then either return your ballot in person by the time the polls close on Election Day, or mail your ballot to your county elections official with a postmark date of November 8 or earlier. Ballots must be received by November 15, so plan accordingly.
Colorado
Colorado offers in-person early voting. Look up your assigned polling location for dates and hours.
Colorado automatically sends mail-in ballots to every registered voter. Ballots must be received by the county clerk by 7 p.m. on Election Day, whether it’s mailed in or dropped off in person. Postmark dates are not taken into account.
Connecticut
Connecticut does not offer in-person early voting.
If you’re a registered voter in Connecticut, you can apply for an absentee ballot through the online portal. All ballots must be received by the time the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, either through the mail or dropped off in person.
Delaware
Delaware citizens can vote early beginning October 28. Check the state’s official website to find your polling location and hours of operation.
Earlier in October, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that citizens must provide a valid excuse in order to obtain an absentee ballot—luckily, “vacation” is one of the accepted excuses. You can request a ballot through the online portal or by filling out the printable request form. Applications must be received by the Department of Elections Office in your county no later than November 4, four days before Election Day.
Your completed ballot must be in the hands of your county’s Department of Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia offers early in-person voting between October 31 and November 6. To find your early voting center, use the district’s Vote Center Location Tool.
All active registered voters in Washington, D.C. will be automatically mailed a ballot for the midterm elections. You only need to specifically request a ballot if you’re already away from home and need it sent to a different address, which can all be done through the official mail-in ballot request portal.
Specific instructions on voting will be included with your ballot, but in general, all mailed-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive no later than November 15, seven days after Election Day.
Florida
Early voting has already begun in Florida, though the specifics vary from county to county. Check your county’s official website to find more information.
Citizens can request a vote-by-mail ballot by writing or emailing their Supervisor of Elections, but the deadline has passed for this election. Completed ballots must be received, regardless of postmark, by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Georgia
Georgia offers in-person early voting, which has already kicked off in most counties. Find your advanced voting location and operating hours through the state’s website.
The absentee ballot application has passed and completed ballots, for those that got one, must be received back at the county registrar’s office before the polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Hawaii
Hawaii offers in-person voting from October 25 to November 8 (excluding Sundays). Find your designated voter service center through the state’s Office of Elections website.
Hawaii automatically mails a ballot to every registered voter a few weeks before the election. You can return your completed ballot by mail or in person, but they must be received by your County Elections Division by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Idaho
Idaho offers early voting up through 5 p.m. on October 24. You can find your polling location and hours of operation on the state’s website.
The mail-in absentee ballot has passed. Completed ballots need to be received by your County Clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Illinois
Illinois has a generous early voting window, stretching from September 29 to November 7. Early voting locations are listed by jurisdiction on the state department’s website.
Voters can request an absentee ballot by filling out the vote-by-mail application and getting it to their Election Authority by November 3. Completed ballots must be postmarked by November 8 and received by November 22.
Indiana
Indiana state law requires all counties to provide early voting options, from October 12 through noon on November 7. Visit Indiana’s voter portal to find your polling location and hours.
The deadline for Indiana citizens to request mail-in absentee ballot has passed. If you already submitted your application, know that county election officials must receive your completed mail-in ballot by 6 p.m. on Election Day.
Iowa
Iowa offers in-person early voting at your county auditor's office from October 19 to noon on November 7.
Registered voters in Iowa can request a mail-in absentee ballot; unfortunately, the window for receiving applications has already closed. If you did manage to get your application approved in time, make sure your completed ballot gets to your county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Kansas
All Kansas citizens have been able to vote in person since October 19. Find your polling place on the state’s website.
Voters must request a mail-in absentee ballot. Print and complete the application form, then submit it to your county clerk by November 1. Completed ballots must be postmarked no later than November 8 and be received by the county election office by EOD the Friday following the election (Nov. 11).
Kentucky
Kentucky residents can vote early with an approved excuse on October 31 and November 1–2. No-excuse early voting is available from November 3–5. You can find your county’s polling information here.
The window for requesting a mail-in ballot has already closed. If you got your application in on time, it must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Louisiana
Early voting is available in Louisiana from October 25 to 6 p.m. on November 1. For a detailed list of early voting locations in your county, log in to Louisiana’s voter portal.
You can request an absentee ballot by logging in to the Louisiana Voter Portal and completing the online form. The deadline to complete the request is 4:30 p.m. on November 4. Filled-in ballots must be received by your county’s registrar by 4:30 p.m. on November 7.
Maine
Registered voters in Maine can vote at their county clerk’s office from October 11 to 5 p.m. on November 3.
Use Maine’s online voter portal to request an absentee ballot—just make sure to do it by 5 p.m. on November 3. The ballot will be sent to you in the mail, and the completed ballot must be received by your municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Maryland
Early voting in Maryland will be held from October 27 through November 3. You can find a list of early voting centers online.
Any registered voter can also request a mail-in ballot, no excuse needed. You can send in your request through the state’s website. If you want your ballot to be mailed to you, the application must be received by 8 p.m. on November 1. However, if you want to receive your ballot online, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. on November 4.
Whichever way you get your ballot, just be sure to have it postmarked on or before Election Day. It must be received by your local board of elections by 10 a.m. on November 18.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts offers in-person early voting from October 22 to November 4. Poll hours vary by county, so be sure to check online before you show up.
To request a vote-by-mail ballot, submit a signed application to your local election office. You can fill everything out online, and the final form must be submitted by 5 p.m. on November 1. Completed ballots must be postmarked by November 8 and received by 5 p.m. on November 12.
Michigan
In Michigan, in-person absentee voting stretches from September 29 to November 7. Check out the Michigan Voter Information Center to find your polling location and hours.
Registered voters can request an absentee ballot online using Michigan’s absentee voter request form before 5 p.m. the Friday before the election (Nov. 4). Try to request yours soon rather than later—completed ballots must be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Minnesota
Early voting in Minnesota kicked off on September 23 and lasts until 5 p.m. on November 7. Find a list of early voting centers here.
To request a mail-in absentee ballot, use the online absentee application. Requests will be accepted up through November 7, but your completed ballot must be received by November 8 (and signed by either a notary or a witness who is also a registered voter in Minnesota).
Mississippi
Mississippi citizens can vote in person from September 26 through noon on November 5. Use the polling place locator to find specific info for your location.
Mail-in absentee voting is trickier for Mississippi residents. You must be able to provide a valid excuse for absentee voting, and the list of accepted excuses is very short. Citizens do qualify if they are “temporarily residing outside of their county of residence,” but the ballot must then be mailed to an address outside of the county. So it’s possible to make it work on an extended vacation, but it will require some advance planning.
There is technically no deadline to request a mail-in ballot from your county clerk’s office, but you must send in the application by mail, wait for the ballot to be mailed to you (usually within one business day of receipt), and then return your completed ballot with a postmark on or before November 8.
Missouri
In-person absentee voting has already started in Missouri and will last through 5 p.m. on November 7. Check your voter registration to find your polling center’s hours.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot in Missouri has already passed. If you did get a ballot, it must be received by the time the polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Montana
Montana does not offer true early voting (i.e. showing up early to your polling place and using a voting machine), but citizens can complete and submit an absentee ballot in person at their election office now through noon on November 7.
To request a vote-by-mail ballot, fill out the absentee ballot application and either mail it or hand it into your county election office by noon on November 7. Absentee ballots must be received by the office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Nebraska
Nebraska offers in-person early voting at county election offices, from October 11 through November 7. You must apply for an “early voting ballot” however, which can be done by printing an online early voting application, completing the form, and then mailing, faxing, or emailing it to your county election office. Applications will be accepted at any time up until the offices close on November 7.
The early voting ballot is the go-to form whether you want to vote early in person or mail in your absentee ballot. Regardless of your preferred method, all ballots must arrive at the county election official’s office by the closing of the polls at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Nevada
Early voting in Nevada lasts from October 22 through November 4. You can find your polling location and hours of operation here.
As of 2021, all registered voters in Nevada will automatically receive a mail-in ballot in the weeks leading up to any election. Completed ballots must be postmarked by November 8 and be received no later than 5 p.m. on November 12.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is not offering early in-person voting for the 2022 election.
Citizens are able to request an absentee ballot, though they must provide an approved reason. Applications can be mailed, faxed, or handed into your city clerk’s office at any point before 5 p.m. on November 7. Just be sure your completed ballot is received by the clerk by 5 p.m. on Election Day.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s in-person early voting period is from October 29 to November 6. You can find early poll locations listed by county on the state’s website.
Any voter may apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the application and returning the application to their county clerk by November 1. All ballots must have a postmark date on or before November 8 and reach the clerk by November 14.
New Mexico
Early voting in New Mexico kicked off on October 11 and continues through November 5. Check locations and hours of operation on the state’s voter portal.
You can request an absentee ballot through the online portal; applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on November 3. All ballots must be received by your county clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
New York
New York citizens can vote early in person between October 29 and November 6. For early polling occasions and hours, use the state’s voter lookup site.
The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in New York has already passed. However, voters can still request an absentee ballot in person at their county board of elections until November 7. Completed ballots must be postmarked by November 8 and received by November 15.
North Carolina
North Carolina offers in-person voting from October 20 until 3 p.m. on November 5. You can cast your ballot at any early voting site in your county.
Registered voters in North Carolina can request an absentee ballot either online or by printing the request form. All applications must be received by 5 p.m. on November 1. Completed ballots must be postmarked by November 8 and received by 5 p.m. on November 14.
North Dakota
Early voting in North Dakota started on October 28 and lasts until November 7. Find your polling location on the state’s website.
North Dakotans don’t need an excuse to vote absentee, and some counties (but not all) automatically send mail-in ballots to residents. If you aren’t in a county that uses mail-in ballot elections, you can complete an application and sign an affidavit—something that can be done any day of the calendar year.
Completed ballots must be postmarked no later than the day before the election (Nov. 7).
Ohio
Ohio has already begun early in-person voting. Registered voters can cast their ballot at their county board of elections.
Ohio voters can also request a mail-in absentee ballot. Use the state’s application form and get it to your county board of elections by noon on November 5. If mailed, absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before the election (Nov. 7) in order to be counted.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma offers in-person early voting from November 2–5. Note that the polling hours vary from day to day, so be sure to check your county’s details in advance.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot in Oklahoma has already passed. Completed mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Oregon
Oregon does not offer early in-person voting.
Luckily, all registered voters in Oregon are automatically sent a mail-in ballot leading up to the election. Completed ballots must be postmarked by November 8 and received by November 15.
Pennsylvania
While Pennsylvania does not offer traditional early voting (i.e. showing up to your polling location and using a voting machine), you can request an early ballot and drop it off at your county election board at any point before Election Day.
Note that the early ballot is the exact same as the absentee ballot—the only difference is whether you mail it in or drop it off IRL. You can apply online for the ballot, and the application must be completed by 5 p.m. on November 1. All completed ballots must be received by the election office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island citizens can vote in person in the 20 days leading up to Election Day—for the midterms, those dates are October 19 through November 7. Check the state’s website for voting locations and hours in your community.
Unfortunately, the deadline for absentee ballot applications has long passed. Your best bet is to try and vote early in person, but you can also try requesting an emergency mail ballot from your local board of canvassers. Those requests will be accepted up through November 7, but note that completed ballots need to be received by the Rhode Island Board of Elections no later than 8 p.m. on November 8.
South Carolina
South Carolina offers in-person voting from October 24 until 6 p.m. on November 5. All dates, times, and locations of early voting centers can be found online.
The deadline to return an absentee ballot application has passed. Completed ballots must be signed by a witness and received no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
South Dakota
South Dakota offers in-person absentee voting, which means you must request an early ballot and drop it off at the county auditor’s office, as opposed to using a voting machine at an early voting location. The county election official must receive your application no later than 5 p.m. on November 7.
Once you complete your ballot, you can either drop it off in person or mail it in. Either way, it must reach your county auditor by Election Day—the state website does not specify a specific time, but says it must be received “in enough time to deliver your ballot to your voting precinct before the polls close.” Play it safe and get it in ASAP.
Tennessee
Tennessee offers in-person early voting from October 19 to November 3. Click here to find your county’s early voting locations and hours.
Tennessee allows voters to request an absentee ballot under certain circumstances—one of the accepted excuses is being out of town on Election Day and during the early voting period. You can complete the absentee ballot request form and either mail, fax, or email it to your election commission office by November 1.
Completed ballots must be received by the time the polls close on Election Day.
Texas
Early voting in Texas is open from October 24 to November 4. Polling locations can be found through the state’s voter portal.
While the deadline for this election has passed, know that Texas voters must provide a valid excuse to vote by mail, which includes being absent from their county on Election Day. If you were able to get an absentee ballot, it must be completed and postmarked by November 8 and received by 5 p.m. on November 9.
Utah
Utah offers early voting from October 25 to November 4. Check online for your county’s voting locations and poll hours.
All registered voters in Utah are automatically sent a mail-in ballot. Your ballot must be postmarked by November 7; alternatively, you can place your ballot in a drop box location as late as 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Vermont
Vermont offers in-person absentee voting, which is slightly different than typical early voting. You must submit an early voter absentee ballot request by 5 p.m. on November 7 and then either drop off or mail in your completed ballot.
Early and absentee ballots must be returned to the town clerk’s office by closing time on November 7, or to your polling place by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Virginia
Virginia residents can vote early at their local registrar’s office up through 5 p.m. on November 5. You can find the address for your county’s office online.
Unfortunately, the absentee ballot application process is closed for this election. For those who already received their absentee ballot, it must be signed by a witness, postmarked on or before Election Day, and received by noon on November 11.
Washington
Washington residents can vote in person at any time between October 21 and the time the polls close on Election Day. Find your nearest voting center by logging into VoteWA.gov.
Washington voters are automatically sent a ballot in the mail. All ballots must be postmarked by November 8.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin offers in-person absentee voting, which means you must request a ballot and either drop it off early or mail it to your municipal clerk’s office.
All registered voters can request an absentee ballot using the online application no later than 5 p.m. on November 3. Completed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Wyoming
Wyoming does not offer traditional early in-person voting. Voters must specifically request early and absentee ballots.
Fill out the ballot request form and mail, email, or drop it off at your county clerk’s office by November 7. All completed ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.