The COVID-19 pandemic greatly shifted how voting was conducted in 2020. In the 2016 and 2018 elections, roughly a quarter of all voters used a mail-in ballot. In the 2020 elections, about 46% of voters voted by mail. In the 2022 midterm elections, 35 million mail-in votes, about 31.9% of voters, cast their vote by mail.

Mail-in voting is expected to be strong this year, with some states making their voting laws more accessible. Former President Donald Trump, who once advocated against the process, appears to have changed his mind with the launch of his campaign’s grassroots program “Swamp the Vote USA.”

Here’s what to know about mail-in voting for the 2024 election.

Which states allow mail-in voting?

Automatic mail-in ballot distribution

Below are the states that send ballots to every registered voter:

• California
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington

Must file a request for a mail-in ballot

These are the states and territories that allow registered voters to request mail-in ballots:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Florida
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Virginia
• Virgin Islands
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming.

Must be eligible to vote by mail

The following states require an eligible reason to request a mail-in ballot:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• West Virginia

Deadlines for voting by mail

In order to be accepted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked with a date of Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, or earlier. Very few states offer exceptions for clear postmark labels. In regards to counting ballots, some states have earlier requirements than others for when ballots must be turned in to a local election office. Here’s when your ballot needs to arrive to be counted:

Alabama 

If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 12 p.m. If hand delivered, Monday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. 

Alaska 

Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received no later than Nov. 15

Arizona 

Received by Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Arkansas 

If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. If hand delivered, Friday, Nov. 1, by close of business

California

Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received no later than Nov. 12 

Colorado 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. 

Connecticut 

If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. If hand delivered, Monday, Nov. 4 

Delaware 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. 

District of Columbia 

Postmarked on or before Nov. 5, received by Friday, Nov. 15

Florida 

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. For overseas voters, Friday, Nov. 15

Georgia 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5, at close of polls

Hawaii 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Idaho 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Illinois 

Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received no later than Nov. 19

Indiana 

Due by Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.

Iowa 

Received before Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Kansas 

Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received no later than Friday, Nov. 8

Kentucky 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.

Louisiana 

Monday, Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m. For military or overseas voters, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Maine 

Received by municipal clerk by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Maryland 

Postmarked on or before Nov. 5 and received no later than Friday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.

Massachusetts 

Received by Nov. 5.

Michigan 

Received by city or township clerk by Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Minnesota

Received by mail, drop box, or in person by 8 p.m. Nov. 5.

Mississippi

Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received by Nov. 12 (five business days).

Missouri

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Montana 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Nebraska 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Nevada

Postmarked on or before Nov. 5 and received by Nov. 9. Ballots with unclear postmarks received by Nov. 8 will be counted

New Hampshire 

Received by Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.

New Jersey 

Postmarked by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, received by Monday, Nov. 11.

New Mexico 

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

New York 

Postmarked on Nov. 5 and received no more than Tuesday, Nov. 12 

North Carolina 

If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5. If hand delivered, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.

North Dakota 

Must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 4. If delivered by hand, Monday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.

Ohio 

Must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 4. If delivered by mail, Saturday, Nov. 9. If hand delivered, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Oklahoma 

If delivered by mail, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. If hand delivered, Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.

Oregon 

Postmarked by Nov. 5 and received by Tuesday, Nov. 12

Pennsylvania 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Puerto Rico 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. 

Rhode Island 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

South Carolina 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

South Dakota 

Received by Nov. 5.

Tennessee 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Texas 

Postmarked by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 and received by 5 p.m. the next day. For overseas voters, received by Sunday, Nov. 10

Utah 

Must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 4. If hand delivered, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Vermont 

If delivered by mail, Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. If hand delivered, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Virginia

Postmarked by Nov. 5, and received by Friday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m.  

Virgin Islands 

Received by Friday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.

Washington 

All ballots postmarked by Election Day will be counted

West Virginia 

If delivered by mail, Monday, Nov. 11. If hand delivered, Monday, Nov. 4. Ballots with an unclear postmark received by Wednesday, Nov. 6 will be counted

Wisconsin 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Wyoming 

Received by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

How to track your mail-in ballot by state

Alabama: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Alaska: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Arizona: Use their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Arkansas: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

California: Use their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Colorado: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Connecticut: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Delaware: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

District of Columbia: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Florida: Call (833) 868-3331 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Georgia: Check the mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Hawaii: Call (866) 687-8683 or check the mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Idaho: Call (866) 687-8683 or check the mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Illinois: Check their provisional mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Indiana: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Iowa: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Kansas: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Kentucky: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Louisiana: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Maine: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Maryland: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Massachusetts: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Michigan: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Minnesota: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Mississippi: Call (866) 687-8683. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Missouri: Call (866) 687-8683. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Montana: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Nebraska: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

Nevada: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.

New Hampshire: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election office locator.  

New Jersey: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator. 

New Mexico: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator 

New York: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

North Carolina: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

North Dakota: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Ohio: Call either (866) 644-6868 or (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Oklahoma: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Oregon: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Pennsylvania: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Puerto Rico: Call (787) 764-5601 or email [email protected]. For more voting information, check for online tools in your territory.

Rhode Island: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

South Carolina: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

South Dakota: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Tennessee: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Texas: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Utah: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Vermont: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Virginia: Call (866) 687-8683 or check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Virgin Islands: For St. Croix, call (340) 773-1021 or email [email protected]. For St. John, call (340) 776-6365 or email [email protected]. For St. Thomas, call (340) 774-3107 or email [email protected]. For more voting information, check for online tools in your territory.

Washington: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

West Virginia: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Wisconsin: Check their mail-in ballot tracker. For more voting information, use the local election locator.

Wyoming: Call (866) 687-8683. For more voting information, use their local election locator.