US POLITICS
The eight states where voters are automatically mailed a ballot: arrival date and return deadline
These are the eight states that send all registered voters a mail-in ballot to make casting their voter easier.
In the United States, voters in eight states will automatically be sent a mail-in ballot without needing to request one. While ballots can be returned by mail, voters will also have the option to cast their ballots in person. This election will be an important marker to test whether or not this approach increases voter turnout. Many more ballots were cast by mail in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, making this the first year to test how the policy in a less extreme situation.
Which states send all registered voters a ballot by mail?
- California: Ballots will begin to be sent on October 7.
- Colorado: Ballots will be distributed between October 11-18
- District of Columbia: No date given so far.
- Hawaii: Voters must recieve their ballots at least eighteen days before the election.
- Nevada: State must send ballots at least twenty days before the election.
- Oregon: State must send ballots at least twenty days before the election.
- Utah: Counties will send ballots between October 15-29.
- Washington: Ballots will be sent on October 18.
- Vermont: State must send ballots at least forty-five days before the election.
In addition to these states, dozens more allow voters to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. This option can help workers who find it difficult to get to the polls on election day. The deadlines to request a ballot are approaching rapidly, so be sure to check out the specific date in your state if you hope to cast a mail-in ballot.
States that make voting by mail easy
- 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
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Rhode Island
READ MORE: New election rule in Georgia: How mandating ballots be hand-counted will impact result certification
Do these states have early voting?
Before assuming that a ballot will arrive at your current address, one should check their voter registration details to ensure they are up to date. Those who have not registered by the time the ballots are may not be sent one, requiring them to cast their vote in person on election day or during the early voting window.
When does early voting take place in these states?
- California: Twenty-nine days before election, depends on the county.
- Colorado: Voter service and polling centers must be open 15 days before an election.
- District of Columbia: Twelve days before election
- Hawaii: Ten business days prior to Election Day.
- Nevada: Third Saturday preceding election
- Oregon: Drop sites must open the Friday before an election, but may open as soon as ballots are available (18 days before).
- Utah: Fourteen days before election
- Vermont: Forty-five days before election
- Washington: Eighteen days before an election.
Early voting is underway in Virginia, and on the first day, the number of voters visiting the polls exceeded the figure captured on the first day in 2020. However, 2020 does not provide a reliable benchmark for comparison because the pandemic led many voters to cast their ballots by mail to avoid contracting the virus at the polls.