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How to vote by mail in your state in the November presidential election

Many states have expanded voting by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a Washington Post analysis finding that 180 million voters will be able to easily cast a mail ballot this November.

While different states use varying definitions of absentee versus mail ballots, they functionally work the same way: a voter receives a ballot from their local elections office and returns it via the postal service, in person, or to a ballot drop box.

If you live in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, or the District of Columbia, you'll most likely have a mail-in ballot automatically sent to you and don't need to take further action to request one. (California and Nevada are only sending ballots to active registered voters).

If you live and are registered to vote in Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Wyoming or some New Mexico counties, you may automatically receive a mail-in ballot application that you can fill out and send back. And 25 more states are allowing all or most voters to cast a mail-in ballot without a documented excuse beyond the fear of contracting COVID-19.

While mail voting is not inherently fraudulent or corrupt, as President Donald Trump has falsely claimed for months, it is subject to more complications and user error than voting in person.

With many states starting to send out their November mail-in ballots and commence early voting within two months, the election is much closer than you think.

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How to prevent your mail ballot from being rejected

It requires more steps than voting in person — and there are more opportunities for error

As millions of Americans plan to vote by mail this fall, many are asking: How can I ensure that my ballot is not rejected?

The risk is real, especially among voters who have not voted by mail in the past.

A recent Washington Post analysis found that more than 534,000 mail ballots were rejected during primaries across 23 states this year, disenfranchising voters and offering a preview of what could happen in November, when voter turnout is likely to rise dramatically. Studies have found that experience casting mail ballots tends to correlate with lower rates of rejection, and that younger voters and voters of color are more likely in some cases to see their mail ballots invalidated.

These findings are critical as voters make plans for how to cast their ballots this year.

Nearly 200 million Americans are eligible to vote by mail in the general election, an unprecedented number that reflects changes aimed at making voting easier during the coronavirus pandemic. Millions are expected to embrace this option to protect their health, some for the first time.

But the process of casting a mail ballot can be complicated. Compared with in-person voting, it involves more steps and more opportunities for problems — including some outside the voter’s control.

You should start by either registering to vote or by checking to make sure your voter registration is current and your name and address are correct.

After that, here are six steps you can take to protect your vote while casting a mail ballot.

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