How to cast your absentee ballot for the 2020 presidential election

Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. But this year’s presidential election has presented two unique challenges: the US Postal Service is facing a funding crisis, and COVID-19 has made Americans skeptical about in-person voting.

The good news? Many states have opened up absentee and early voting to more residents, and voters can explore drop boxes and private delivery services to ensure their ballot arrives on time.

Can I vote by mail for the November 3rd election?

It’s likely. Thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak, most states allow residents to cast absentee or mail-in votes for any reason — including a fear of contracting or spreading the coronavirus.

In-person voting is the only option in just seven states, though some states are still finalizing their guidelines.

To put these numbers into context, The Washington Post reports that 77% of Americans — or 180 million — are eligible to vote by mail for the presidential election.

Watch our short video where we take you step-by-step through the process of getting your absentee ballot and casting your vote for this year’s presidential election.

How to vote by mail across the US

Rules and regulations around early and absentee voting vary among states. Some states specify the exact time your ballot must be postmarked by, while others simply offer a date.

To guarantee your vote gets to your election officials on time, aim to send your ballot well before the due date.

Deadlines are listed in local time.

Where to send your mail-in ballot

Once you’ve completed your absentee ballot, send it to the address printed on the return envelope.
Typically, this is your local election office.

Military and overseas voters can send their ballot via a US Post Office, Military Postal Service Agency or US Diplomatic Pouch Mail for free.

In most states, domestic voters have to pay the $0.55 postage. However, 17 states offer prepaid postage for ballots returned via USPS, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL):

New Jersey leaves it up to county clerks to decide whether they want to provide a postage-paid envelope, according to NCSL.

Alternatives to USPS for mailing your ballot

Election ballots are traditionally handled by the USPS. But due to a lack of funding, the USPS has warned 46 states and DC that it may not be able to deliver ballots on time, according to CNN.

The guidance about using private mail companies is murky at this point. Based on our conversations with major carriers, voters can use some services to send mail-in and absentee ballots — but at their own expense.

This is similar to the process of voting abroad, where voters can use professional courier services if “time is short or local mail unreliable,” according to the US Department of State.

However, Reuters reports private carriers can only accept ballots sent the day before and day of Election Day, as these “deliveries are deemed ‘extremely urgent’ by statute.”

Where private mail carriers stand on election ballots

We’ll update this table as clearer guidelines and regulations are released.

Using a drop box to submit your ballot

Another option is taking your ballot to a designated drop box. At the moment, 11 states have drop boxes set up in some or all counties, according to NCSL:

Drop boxes are secure containers that accept sealed envelopes, making them a good option for those who want to avoid the postal service and polling places completely. Some boxes are available and monitored by surveillance cameras 24/7, while others are open during specified business hours, when they can be supervised by election officials.

Typically, drop boxes are placed in accessible and convenient spots, such as city office buildings, community centers, college campuses and local libraries.

Will more drop boxes become available?

Maybe. The US Election Assistance Commission (EAC) recommends counties install one drop box for every 15,000 to 20,000 voters.

The EAC also instructs officials to make the locations of these drop boxes publicly known at least 80 days before an election — which was Saturday, August 15.

Bottom line

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many states have opened up absentee ballots to all — or most — voters. And while the only way to receive an absentee or mail-in ballot is through USPS, there are other ways to submit your ballot outside of the postal service.

If you’re worried about USPS delays or going to a polling place, you can explore drop boxes or using a private mail carrier — though you’ll need to cover the cost of postage.