Everything you need to know about absentee voting but are scared to ask
Riley Treegoob | Staff Writer | rtreegoob@mail.smcvt.edu
Election Day for the 2024 presidential election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
If you are a resident of Vermont, you may travel to the location of your polling place to cast your vote. If you are currently living out of state while in college you must fill out an absentee ballot to cast your vote in your home state.
If figuring out the voting and absentee ballot process seems stressful, don’t worry: The Defender has your back.
How to Register to Vote
The first step to voting is registering, a process that varies by state.
Vote.gov provides a detailed breakdown of the steps residents need to take based on their state. The website will give direct links to individual application pages.
Aside from online registration, citizens can register by mail or in person at their local government offices, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
To apply, a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID is required in most cases, but the required documents differ for each state.
Early Voting
As of August 2024, 47 states allow residents to participate in early in-person voting as stated by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire are the three states that currently do not allow early in-person voting.
This process can be helpful for voters who are traveling out of state and wish to cast their vote prior to Election Day.
The dates early in-person voting begins are different by each state. For your early voting information visit Vote.org.
How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot
The absentee ballot process allows voters to submit their vote before Election Day by mail.
Being an out-of-state college student is an approved reason and will grant the ability to participate in the absentee ballot process.
Voters can get their ballots from their state or territory, applications can be submitted online.
To apply online, visit the webpage “Can I Vote” at Nass.org. Choose the “absentee and early voting” tab, then choose your state to access the needed information.
Approaching Deadlines
Deadlines are key. This is a comprehensive list of every important deadline for the northeast states. To find all other state information, search on Vote.org.
| State | Absentee Ballot Application Deadline | Voted Absentee Ballot is Due |
| Connecticut | In person: received 1 day before Election Day By mail: received 1 day before Election Day, but we recommend applying at least 7 days before Election Day. Online: N/A | Received by close of polls on Election Day if returned by mail or by a voter’s immediate family/qualified designee. But if returned by the voter in person, received by the day before Election Day. |
| Delaware | In person: received by noon on the day before Election Day. By mail: received 4 days before Election Day. Online: received 4 days before Election Day. | Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. |
| Maine | In person: received 3 business days before Election Day. By mail: received 3 business days before Election Day. Online: received 3 business days before Election Day. | Received by the municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day |
| Maryland | In person: Election Day. By mail: received 7 days before Election Day. Online: received 7 days before Election Day to receive ballot by mail, and received 4 days before Election Day to receive ballot online. | Postmarked on or before Election Day and received by 10 a.m., 10 days after Election Day. |
| Massachusetts | In person: received by 5 p.m., 5 business days before Election Day. By mail: received by 5 p.m., 5 business days before Election Day, but we recommend applying at least 7 days before Election Day. Online: received by 5 p.m., 5 business days before Election Day. | Received by Election Day. |
| New Hampshire | In person: no specific deadline. By mail: no specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 14 days before Election Day. Online: N/A | Received by 5 p.m. Election Day. |
| New Jersey | In person: received by 3 p.m., the day before Election Day. By mail: received 7 days before Election Day. Online: N/A | Postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day, and received by the sixth day after Election Day |
| New York | In person: received 1 day before Election Day. By mail: received 15 days before Election Day. Online: received 15 days before Election Day | Postmarked on Election Day and received 7 days after Election Day. Voted ballots can also be turned in by hand on election day. |
| Pennsylvania | In person: received 7 days before Election Day by 5 p.m. By mail: received 7 days before Election Day. Online: received by 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday before Election Day. | Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. |
| Rhode Island | In person: received by 4 p.m., 21 days before Election Day. By mail: received by 4 p.m., 21 days before Election Day. Online: received by 4 p.m., 21 days before Election Day. | Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. |
| Vermont | In person: received 1 day before Election Day. By mail: received 1 day before Election Day, but we recommend applying at least 7 days before Election Day. Online: received 1 day before Election Day. | If mailed, it must be received by the close of business the day before the election. Voters may also submit their ballots by hand at their polling location on Election Day. |