VOTE: Request a Ballot (State by State guide): Introduction

As of October 29, 2020

The 2020 General Election on November 3 is critically important and is in the midst of a pandemic. 

Students living outside of their county are typically eligible for Absentee Ballots, while many states have expanded Vote by Mail in light of our public health crisis.  We are dedicated to helping our students who are eligible to vote be empowered to exercise their franchise.

Please note! There are concerns about post office delays.  If you are going to vote absentee, request and return your ballot as early as possible.  Also, you might consider dropping your ballot off by hand if you are voting from your permanent address.  Relevant information is included in this guide to help you navigate the voting process.

On this site, you will find the information you need arranged by region, with an alphabetical list of states under each region.  Please note that states are changing their processes to address the pandemic.  Refer back to this guide for updates.  

I don't have a printer

Many states require printed forms.  If you do not have a printer, Vote.org will print your absentee ballot application and mail it to you with a pre-paid envelope. On this site, you can verify your registration, register, and request a Mail-in Ballot.

Some states require copies of your IDs.  If you are in one of these states and don''t have a printer, the organization Voteriders.org will print copies, print your forms, and send everything to you with a pre-address and paid envelope.  Also, if you do not have an acceptable ID, Voteriders will help you get one.

General Process

• Verify your registration. 
  • If you are not registered or have been purged from the rolls, register.
• If you are away from your home county because you are in school, request an Absentee Ballot.  This step is especially important for students living in DC.  If you can vote legally in another state, vote there.  DC voters currently do not have any meaningful representation in Congress.  
• If you are living at home, see if your state is going to automatically send you a ballot.  If not, see if there is either no-excuse Absentee Ballots or if there is another excuse (e.g., COVID-19) that fits your circumstance.  Request your ballot.
  • Add a badge to your social media to promote voting.  Help your friends and family vote!
• Research all your races.
  • Vote411.org is a great non-partisan site for comparisons on all races.  All candidates are asked identical questions and their responses are made available for voters to compare.  
  • You can also retrieve relevant information on state elections from the National Conference of  State Legislatures, State Elections Legislation Database.
    
•  Review all of the ballot instructions when they arrive and follow them exactly. 
  • Be sure that you include the right amount of postage and, if unsure, err on the side of an extra stamp.   
  • Pay attention to how to put the envelopes together - often you put your ballot in a sealed envelope and  put the sealed envelope in another envelope that may include an affidavit, a copy of ID, and/or require that it be sealed with a signature -- either yours or that of a witness.
  • Pay special attention to whether the ballot must be RECEIVED or POSTMARKED by a particular day.  Give your ballot as long a window as possible to arrive [click here to find a post office/postal box].  If you're local, consider hand-delivering your ballot if that is an option.  
• Add a badge to your social media and be proud that you have fulfilled an essential duty and hard won right as a citizen of our democracy.