CREATE ACCOUNT

Early Voting Dates and Absentee Ballot Deadlines for the 2012 General Election

Need help voting?  Visit the NASS Can I Vote website. Questions about early voting timeframes or absentee ballot request deadlines? Contact your local election office.

Note: The information in this chart is based on state election websites and calendars, the Federal Voting Assistance Program Voting Assistance Guide, and state laws/regulations. The information is subject to change based on lawsuits or other events. Check with your state and/or local election official or the Federal Voting Assistance Program to confirm the information as it relates to your situation. For purposes of this chart, early voting means that prior to Election Day (November 6th), a voter is able to vote in person, at an election office or other designated location, without having to provide a reason or excuse for not voting at the polls on Election Day. Also, absentee ballot request deadlines may vary based on the method for requesting an absentee ballot. Contact your state or local election office for specific early and absentee voting instructions and deadlines. No state releases absentee voting results until after the polls close on Election Day, November 6th, regardless of when counting begins.

State

Early Voting Timeframe

Absentee Ballot
Request Deadline

Deadline to Return
Regular Absentee Ballots (mail)

Deadline to Return Military and Overseas Ballots (mail)

 When Absentee
Ballot Counting May Begin

Alabama

N/A

Nov 1

- Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Noon Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

7:00 PM Nov 6

Alaska

Oct 22 - Nov 6

Nov 6

- Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by Nov 16

- Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by Nov 21 (from outside US)

8:00 PM Nov 6

Arizona

Oct 11 - Nov 2

Oct 26

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Oct 30

Arkansas

Oct 22 - Nov 5

Nov 5

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 - Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by Nov 16th

Prior to close of polls Nov 6

California

Oct 8 - Nov 6

Oct 30

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Oct 26

Colorado

Oct 22 - Nov 2

Nov 2

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Received by Nov 14

 Oct 22

Connecticut

N/A

Nov 5

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

10:00 AM on Nov 6

Delaware

N/A

Nov 5

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Upon open of polls on Nov 6

District of Columbia

Oct 22 - Nov 3

Oct 30

- Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by Nov 16

 - Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by Nov 16

 8:00 PM Nov 6

Florida

Oct 27 - Nov 3

Oct 31

 7:00 PM Nov 6

- Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by Nov 9

 Oct 22

Georgia

Oct 15 - Nov 2

Nov 6

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 7:00 AM on Nov 6

Hawaii

Oct 23 - Nov 3

Oct 30

 6:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 6

Idaho

Sept 21 - Nov 2

Oct 31

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 6

Illinois

Oct 22 - Nov 3

Nov 5

- Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Nov 20

 Same as regular ballot

7:00 PM Nov 6

Indiana

Oct 9 - Nov 5

Oct 29

 6:00 PM Nov 6

- Postmark by Nov 5th
- Received by Nov 12th

Upon open of polls Nov 6

Iowa

Sept 27 - Nov 5

Nov 5

- Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Noon Nov 13

 Same as regular ballot

Nov 5

Kansas

Oct 17 - Nov 5

Nov 2

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Nov 6

Kentucky

N/A

Oct 30

 6:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 10:00 AM Nov 6

Louisiana

Oct 23 - Oct 30

Nov 2

 4:30 PM Nov 5

 Same as regular ballot

 1:00 PM Nov 6

Maine

Date Available - Nov 6

Nov 1

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Upon close of polls Nov 6

Maryland

Oct 27 - Nov 2

Oct 31

- Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by 10:00am Nov 16

 Same as regular ballot

10:00 AM Nov 8th

Massachusetts

N/A

Nov 5

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

After polls close Nov 6

Michigan

N/A

Nov 3

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 6

Minnesota

N/A

Nov 5

 3:00 PM Nov 6

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Upon close of polls Nov 6

Mississippi

N/A

Nov 3

 5:00 PM on Nov 5

 Same as regular ballot

Upon close of polls Nov 6

Missouri

N/A

Nov 5

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Upon close of polls Nov 6

Montana

Oct 9 - Nov 5

Nov 5

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 6

Nebraska

Oct 1 - Nov 5

Oct 31

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 5

Nevada

Oct 20 - Nov 2

Oct 30

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 6

New Hampshire

N/A

N/A

 5:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Upon close of polls Nov 6

New Jersey

Date Available - Nov 5

Nov 5

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 6

New Mexico

Oct 9 - Nov 3rd

Nov 2

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Upon close of polls Nov 6

New York

N/A

Nov 5

- Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Nov 19

 - Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Nov 19

 Nov 6

North Carolina

Oct 18 - Nov 3

Oct 30

 - Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by 5:00 PM Nov 9

 Nov 6

 5:00 PM Nov 6

North Dakota

Oct 22 - Nov 5

Nov 5

- Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by county canvass

- Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by Nov 9 or 12 (depends on county)

 Nov 5

Ohio

Oct 2 - Nov 5

Nov 3

- Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Nov 16

- Postmark by Nov 5th (within US)
- Postmark by Election Day (outside US)
- Received by Nov 16th

Nov 6

Oklahoma

Nov 2- Nov 5

Oct 31

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Nov 6

Oregon

N/A

N/A

 8:00 PM Nov 6

 Same are regular ballot

Begin scanning Oct 30

Pennsylvania

N/A

Nov 2

 Received by Nov 2

 - Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Nov 13

Upon close of polls Nov 6

Rhode Island

N/A

Oct 16

 9:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Nov 6

South Carolina

N/A

Nov 5

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 9:00 AM Nov 6

South Dakota

Sept 21 - Nov 6

Nov 6

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Upon close of polls Nov 6

Tennessee

Oct 17 - Nov 1

Oct 30

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Upon close of polls Nov 6

Texas

Oct 22 - Nov 2

Oct 30

 7:00 PM Nov 6

- Postmark by Nov 6 (from outside US)
- Received by Nov 12 (from outside US) 
- Received by Nov 6 (from within US)

Upon open of polls Nov 6

Utah

Oct 23 - Nov 2

Nov 2

- Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Noon date of canvass

- Postmark by Nov 5
- Received by Nov 19

Before date of canvass

Vermont

Sept 24 - Nov 5

Nov 5

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 6

Virginia

N/A

Nov 3

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

Nov 6

Washington

N/A

N/A

 Postmark by Nov 6

 Nov 26

8:00 PM Nov 6

West Virginia

Oct 24 - Nov 3

Oct 31

- Postmark by Nov 6
- Received by Nov 13

 Nov 13

 Nov 6

Wisconsin

Oct 22 - Nov 2

Nov 1

 8:00 PM Nov 6

- Postmark by Nov 6 (military)
- Received by Nov 16 (military)
- Same as regular ballot (overseas citizen)

 Nov 6

Wyoming

Sept 27 - Nov 5

Nov 5

 7:00 PM Nov 6

 Same as regular ballot

 Nov 6

Featured Links

image

Prevent Business ID Theft

Find out how Secretaries of State are working to combat the growing threat of business identity theft.
More
image

Find Business Services

Get access to business services in all 50 states and DC - everything from corporate filings to licensing.
More
image

Get Help With Voting

Are you registered? Need to find out where to vote? Visit our site with voting info for DC and all 50 states!
More
image

Get Info on Apostilles

Need a certified/authenticated document from your state? Find out how to contact a state office!
More