How Do I Vote by Mail and How Do I Track My Mail-In Ballot?

Election day is fast approaching, but some people won’t be able to make it to the polls on Nov. 5. If you haven’t yet taken the time to train a carrier pigeon to deliver your ballot to the nearest polling place, mail-in voting may provide an alternative solution.

But how exactly do you do that? All states have some form of vote-by-mail system. Read on to get organized ahead of election day.

Do I Need to Request a Ballot?

Eight states and the District of Columbia have “all mail-in-voting,” which means a ballot will be mailed to you automatically; everywhere else you need to request one. This gives you the option to vote by mail, or to fill out your ballot and drop it off at a polling place or ballot box.

If you live in Washington, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, or the District of Columbia, this option is for you.  If you think you will be out of town when the ballots are mailed, you will need to contact your local election board to have your automatic ballot sent to your new location. Sometimes this must be done a month in advance, so check the requirements here.

How Do I Request an Absentee Ballot?

Absentee ballots are for citizens looking to vote by mail, but who do not live in the state where they are registered. They are also for states with no “all-mail-in” system and when voters cannot show up in person. Absentee ballots must always be requested, although some states allow permanent absentee registration.

Sometimes when you request your ballot—or request an application to receive a ballot—you will be required to provide an I.D. with your request, as well as when you return your ballot. Request a ballot, and double-check your state’s rules here.

Is It Really That Easy?

In 14 states, there is an extra wrinkle: You will be required to provide a reason for your mail-in ballot. This is the case in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and West Virginia.

Valid reasons vary from illness or immobility, to being absent due to vacation or business travel. No need to leave your month-long Napa Valley getaway to fly back to South Dakota for one day of voting in November.

When requesting an absentee or mail-in ballot, it is important to stay on top of the deadlines, especially the submission cutoff date. U.S. Vote Foundation has a helpful tracker that lists each state’s voting deadlines. Just select your state, and click on the relevant election date to see a dropdown menu with the deadlines.

I’m In Uzbekistan and My Ballot Never Showed Up. Panic Time?

Sometimes an overseas or military voter may request an absentee ballot, but it doesn’t arrive in time due to postal issues or some other glitch in the system. But all is not lost—if you don’t receive your ballot, you can cast an online emergency write-in ballot through U.S. Vote Foundation.

You voted! Now what?

You can track your ballot using the Vote.org tracker tool.