Keep Calm and Carry on Voting: How to Vote By Mail During the Coronavirus Outbreak

How to Vote By Mail in Upcoming Federal Primaries
Last updated July 20, 2020 at 10:25 a.m. ET
Coronavirus should not be a political issue, but with federal primaries ongoing and the general election coming up, it could soon directly impact our politics. We should protect not only our health, but our civil liberties at this time — and one of those civil liberties is our fundamental right to vote.

For many, the best way to vote while safeguarding your health during this time may be to vote by mail. It’s easy to request an absentee ballot and there’s still enough time to do so for most states with upcoming federal primaries. While some states limit who can vote absentee — for example, to people with health issues, disabilities, or other circumstances that may prevent them from voting in person — most states allow anyone to vote this way. We are ramping up litigation in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, South Carolina, and Virginia to make it as easy as possible for all eligible voters to vote by mail in 2020. No one should have to choose between their health and their vote. For more information, read ACLU’s Voting Rights Project Director Dale Ho’s op-ed in the New York Times.

As states make emergency election changes due to COVID-19, we encourage you to return to this page to get more up-to-date information about who is eligible to cast a vote-by-mail ballot during upcoming statewide or federal primaries.

This resource includes the deadlines for applying to vote by mail in upcoming federal primary elections and for submitting your voted ballot.
(In some states, upcoming federal primaries include presidential primary elections, which are otherwise generally excluded from this document.) To encourage voting by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic, some states are proactively mailing vote-by-mail ballot applications or actual ballots to all registered or active voters. We recommend that all voters make an affirmative request for a vote-by-mail ballot to help ensure that one is sent to their current address.

Remember that public health officials recommend that you not lick ballot envelopes, but instead use a wet sponge or cloth to seal them.

Unless otherwise specified, this resource does not include information about:

• Remaining elections that are only presidential primaries;
• Primaries that have been cancelled or that have already occurred, or run-off elections that are scheduled but may not be necessary;
• In-person absentee voting;
• Restrictions on third-party distribution or collection of absentee ballots;
• Voting options under UOCAVA for overseas citizens or servicemembers (see FVAP.gov); or
• How to make last-minute requests for absentee ballots due to unexpected emergencies like hospitalization just before Election Day (several states have emergency procedures to accommodate such requests).
• Witness, notary, or photo ID requirements. Please check state sites for information that may change about whether you must provide a copy of a photo ID or submit witness and/or notary signature requirements alongside your mail-in ballot, as this information is rapidly changing due to litigation

Consult your local or state election officials if you have questions, including about presidential primaries and local elections not included here, about how you can help others obtain and submit absentee ballots, or if you would like assistance in completing or printing a vote-by-mail ballot application. For more information on your voting rights generally, see our page at https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/voting-rights/. For more information on voting by mail generally, please visit vote.org or call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Alaska
State Primary
Date of primary: August 18
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply & Application Request Deadline: Apply by mail, fax, or email to the Division of Elections by August 8 to receive a ballot in the mail. Apply online (between 8am on August 3 and 5pm on August 17) to receive a ballot electronically by email or by fax. (Electronically delivered ballots must be printed and mailed or faxed.)
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by close of business the 10th day after the election (August 28).

Arizona
State Primary
Date of primary: August 4
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Apply online or by contacting your county clerk.
Application Request Deadline: Vote-by-mail ballot must be requested by 5pm on July 24.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by 7pm on August 4.

Connecticut
State Primary & Presidential Primary
Date of primary: August 11
Who can vote absentee: Anyone may vote by mail for the primary, in light of the pandemic. Check CT SOS site for updates on litigation re this issue.
How to apply: All registered voters will be mailed an absentee ballot application (which must be submitted via mail). If you have not received yours by now (and you are registered as D or R) then please contact your local election office. Voters may also download an application to vote by mail.1
If you have not received yours by now (and you are registered as D or R) then please contact your local election office.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by August 10.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by the municipal clerk by close of polls (typically 8 p.m.) on August 11.

Florida
State Primary
Date of primary: August 18
Who can vote absentee: Everyone. If you have a felony record (with fines/costs due), please check the FL SOS for updates (resulting from litigation) re the right to vote in this primary.
How to apply: Request from your county supervisor online or by phone, mail, email, or fax.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by 5 p.m. on August 8.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day (August 18).

Hawai’i
State Primary
Date of primary: August 8
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Voters registered by July 9, 2020 will receive a ballot in the mail around July 21. You can register to vote here.
Application Request Deadline: Voters may also submit an application to vote-by-mail by mail to your county clerk’s office. Application must be received by August 1.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by the county clerk by 7 p.m. on Election Day (August 8).

Kansas
State Primary
Date of primary: August 4
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Apply to your county election officer.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by July 28.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day (August 4) and received by the county officer no later than three days after the election (August 7).

Massachusetts
State Primary
Date of primary: September 1
Who can vote absentee: Everyone may vote by mail in this primary and general election (allowance expires 12/31/20)
How to apply: Absentee ballot applications will be mailed out by July 15. You may also apply to your local clerk by writing a letter, or submitting an application form by mail, fax, or email.
Application Request Deadline: Request must be received by noon on August 31.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballots must be received at the city or town hall by close of polls (typically 8 p.m.) on Election Day (September 1).

Michigan
State Primary
Date of primary: August 4
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Registered voters will be mailed an application to vote-by-mail. Voters may also applyvia mail, fax, or email to your city or township clerk. Large print, fillable, and Spanish-language applications are available.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday before the election (July 31).
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by the clerk’s office by close of polls on Election Day (8 p.m. on August 4).

Minnesota
State Primary
Date of primary: August 11
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Apply online (starting May 13) or by mail, fax, or email to your county election office.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by August 10.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day (August 11). By court order, ballots received within two days of Election Day and postmarked by August 11, 2020 (Election Day) will be counted.

Missouri
State Primary
Date of primary: August 4
Who can vote absentee: Usually an excuse is required, but the Governor signed a bill allowing anyone to vote by mail for August Primary and November General Election.
How to apply: Apply by mail, fax, or e-mail to your local election authority.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday before the election (July 22).
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by the local election authority by close of polls (typically 7 p.m.) on Election Day (August 4).

New Hampshire
State Primary
Date of primary: September 8
Who can vote absentee: Usually an excuse is required, but the state Attorney General has provided guidance that anyone who is concerned about COVID-19 may vote by mail, in light of the pandemic.
How to apply: Apply by mail or fax to your town or city clerk. (Check for updates to accessibility for vision-impaired persons.)
Application Request Deadline: We recommend submitting your application so that it is received by eight days before Election Day (August 31).
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by 5pm on Election Day (September 8).

Rhode Island
State Primary
Date of primary: September 8
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Apply by mail. You may download an application here.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by your local board of canvassers by 4 p.m. on the 21st day before the election (August 18).
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by 8pm on Election Day (September 8).

Tennessee
State Primary
Date of primary: August 6
Who can vote absentee: At the present time, anyone may vote by mail in the primary, in light of the pandemic. Please continue to monitor, however, as the court decision allowing this may be appealed. Note, too, that AG claims that first-time voters who have registered by mail must vote in person (and are prohibited from voting by mail). Check TN SOS for updates.
How to apply: Apply by mail, fax, or email to your county election commission.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by the seventh day before the election (July 30).
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by the county election commission by close of polls on Election Day (8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on August 6).

Vermont
State Primary
Date of primary: August 11
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Apply online or by mail, phone, fax, or email to your town clerk.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by 5 p.m. (or the time of closing of the town clerk’s office) the day before the election (August 10).
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by close of polls (typically 7 p.m.) on Election Day (August 11).

Washington
State Primary
Date of primary: August 4
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Registered voters will be mailed a ballot at least 18 days before the election. If you do not receive your ballot in the mail, contact your county elections department.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day (August 4).

Wisconsin
State Primary
Date of primary: August 11
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Apply online, or by mail, fax, or email to your municipal clerk.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by 5 p.m. on the 5th day preceding the election (August 6).
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day (August 11).

Wyoming
State Primary
Date of primary: August 18 — See ACLU-WY’s guide for more information
Who can vote absentee: Everyone.
How to apply: Apply by mail, by phone, or by email to your county clerk.
Application Request Deadline: Application must be received by August 17.
Voted Ballot Return Deadline: Mailed ballot must be received by the county clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day (August 18).

1 Connecticut requires individuals who distribute more than four absentee ballot applications to people outside of their immediate family to register with and obtain those forms from a local town clerk.