In the frenzy of award booking that led up to the launch of the new British Airways Avios program last November, I booked a Cathay Pacific first class award for early November of 2012. I had actually somewhat forgotten about the award up until a couple weeks ago and I’m at the point where I need to use it or pay $40 to get the Avios back- though it’ll be my last chance to fly Cathay First class at the old British Airway rate 75,000 miles each way (nowadays the same award will cost 105,000 Avios since the new chart is distance based). Now that I’m set on Asia, I’ll be away for Election Day (November 6)! I obviously want to cast my vote - especially since Florida is a battleground state and every vote matters, but I won’t actually be on the ground to do so, so I wanted to look into voting by mail and getting an absentee ballot. I figured the information would be useful to many readers as well since many of you are on the road as much (or more) as I am!In most cases you can request an absentee ballot in person, by telephone, by mail, online, or through other written requests such as an email if you are a member of the military and are overseas. You can also designate an immediate family member or legal guardian to submit the request on your behalf. The necessary information needed to receive an absentee ballot is the name of the voter, the voter’s address, date of birth and signature.In 21 states you must provide an excuse for voting by absentee ballot. These states include:Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.In the remaining 27 states and the District of Columbia no excuse is necessary:Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.I found longdistancevote.org to be a really helpful site with deadlines and instructions for the entire absentee voting process for each state. The procedure for each state varies, so look below for your specific state:ALABAMAVoter registration form: Postmarked on or before October 26, 2012Absentee ballot application: Received on or before November 1, 2012Absentee ballot due: Postmarked by the day before the election and received by noon on Election Day if mailed; received by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election if hand-deliveredALASKAVoter registration form: Received on or before October 6, 2012Absentee ballot application: Received on or before October 27, 2012Voted absentee ballot: Postmarked on or before Election Day, November 6, 2012ARIZONAVoter Registration Form: Received by October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5pm October 26, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7pm on Election Day, November 6, 2012ARKANSASVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by October 31, 2012, if sent by mail or fax; Received by close of business on November 5, 2012 if delivered in personVoted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:30 p.m. on November 6, 2012 if sent by mail; received by close of business on November 5, 2012 if delivered in personSign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.CALIFORNIAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 22, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 30, 2012 (by mail); no deadline in personVoted Absentee Ballot: Received by 8:00 pm on November 6, 2012COLORADOVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by the close of polls on Election Day, November 6, 2012CONNECTICUTVoter registration: Postmarked on or before October 23, 2012 (via mail), or on or before October 30, 2012 (in person)Absentee ballot application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the electionAbsentee ballot due: Received by 8:00 p.m. on November 6, 2012, if submitting via mail; received on or before November 5 if submitting in personDELAWAREVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 13, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before November 2, 102Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 12:00pm noon on November 5, 2012DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9 (by mail); on election day (in person)Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked on or before November 6, 2012, and received within ten days of Election DayFLORIDAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5pm on or before October 31, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7pm Election DayGEORGIAVoter registration form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee ballot application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the electionAbsentee ballot due: Received by close of polls on Election DayHAWAIIVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 4:30 pm on or before October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by close of polls on Election DayIDAHOVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 12, 2012, or in person on Election DayAbsentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 31, 2012Absentee Ballot Due: Received by 8:00 pm on or before November 6, 2012, via mail. Deliver in person by 5:00 pm on November 2, 2012ILLINOISVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before November 1, 2012, (via mail); by November 5, 2012 (in person)Voted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked no later than midnight, November 5, 2012, and received within 14 days of the electionINDIANAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 29, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by close of polls on Election DayIOWAVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 27, or postmarked on or before October 22 if received after the deadline. You may also vote in person on Election Day.Absentee Ballot Application:Received by 5:00 pm on or before November 2, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked on or before November 5, 2012, and received by noon on the Tuesday after the electionKANSASVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 16, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by November 2, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on Election DayKENTUCKYVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 6:00 PM on Election DayLOUISIANAVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received no later than 4:30pm on November 2, 2012. If hospitalized, by 8pm on November 5, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 4:30 pm on November 5, 2012. If hospitalized, by 8pm on Election DayMAINEVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 16, 2012. You may also register in person on Election Day.Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before November 1, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 8:00 PM on Election DayMARYLANDVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 16, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 30, 2012 by 8:00 p.m. if requested in person or by mail, or by 11:59 p.m. if requested by fax or emailVoted Absentee Ballot: Delivered in person by 8:00 pm on November 6, 2012. Postmarked by November 6, 2012, and received by 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd Friday after the electionMASSACHUSETTSVoter registration form: Postmarked on or before October 17, 2012Absentee ballot application: Received by 12:00 pm noon on November 5, 2012Voted absentee ballot: Received before 8:00 pm on Election Day, November 6, 2012MICHIGANVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 2:00 pm November 3, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 8:00 PM on Election DayFirst-time voters who register by mail must vote in person the first time they vote.MINNESOTA Voter Registration: Received on or before October 16, 2012. You may also register in-person at the polls on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residenceAbsentee ballot application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the electionVoted absentee ballot: Received by 3:00 PM on Election Day if mailed. Received by 5:00 p.m. on November 5, 2012, if delivered in person. You may also have someone else return your completed ballot, sealed in its envelope, to your local election official by 3:00 p.m. on Election Day (Persons delivering ballots may not do so for more than three voters)MISSISSIPPIVoter Registration: Postmarked on or before October 6, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before an electionVoted Absentee Ballot: Received by 5:00 pm on November 5, 2012MISSOURIVoter Registration: Received on or before 5:00 or normal closing time, whichever is later, on October 10, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5:00 pm on October 31, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on Election Day if mailed, or by 5:00 pm on November 5, 2012, if casting absentee ballot in personMONTANAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012. You may also register in person up until Election DayAbsentee Ballot Application: Received by 12:00 pm noon on November 5, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received before close of polls on Election DayNEBRASKAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 19, 2012. Delivered in person on or before October 26, 2012, at 6:00 pmAbsentee Ballot Application: Received by 4:00 pm on October 31, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 8:00 pm on November 6, 2012NEVADAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 6, 2012. You can also register in-person until October 16, 2012.Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5:00 pm on October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on November 6, 2012NEW HAMPSHIREVoter registration form: Received on or before October 27, 2012. You can also register in person on Election DayAbsentee ballot application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the electionAbsentee ballot due: Received by 5:00 pm on Election Day, if mailed. Received by 5:00 pm on November 5, 2012, if delivered in personNEW JERSEYVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 16, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 30, 2012, via mail. Request in person by November 5, 2012, at 3:00 pmVoted Absentee Ballot: received by 8pm on Election DayNEW MEXICOVoter registration form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee ballot application: Received by 5:00 pm on November 2, 2012Absentee ballot due: Received by 7:00 pm on Election DayNEW YORKVoter Registration Form: Postmarked by October 12, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Postmarked by October 30, 2012. Requested in person by November 5, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked by November 5, 2012, and received no later than the 7th day after the election. Delivered in person by close of polls on November 6, 2012NORTH CAROLINAVoter Registration: Received on or before October 12, 2012. You can also register in person and vote early during the “one-stop” voting period from October 18 - November 3, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5:00 pm on October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked by Election Day and received by 5:00 p.m. on the 3rd day after the election. Delivered in person by 5:00 p.m on November 5, 2012NORTH DAKOTAVoter registration: North Dakota is the only state in the US that does not require some form of voter registrationAbsentee ballot application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the electionVoted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked via mail or date-stamped via email or fax by November 5, 2012OHIOVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 12:00 pm noon on November 3, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Delivered in person by the close of polls on Election Day. Postmarked on or before November 5, 2012, and received no later than 10 days after the electionOKLAHOMAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 12, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5:00 pm on October 31, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on Election DayOREGONVoter Registration: Postmarked on or before October 16, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the electionVoted Absentee Ballot: Received by 8:00 pm Election DayPENNSYLVANIAVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5:00 pm on October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 5:00 pm on November 2, 2012RHODE ISLANDVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 6, 2012. You may register to vote and vote on Election Day, but you will be allowed to vote only for the offices of President and Vice President, not in state, local or other federal races.Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 16, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 9:00 pm on Election DaySOUTH CAROLINAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 6, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5:00 pm November 2, 2012Voted Absente Ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on Election DaySOUTH DAKOTAVoter Registration: Received on or before October 22, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 3:00 pm on Election Day (yes, really!)Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by close of polls on Election DayTENNESSEEVoter Registration: Postmarked on or before October 6, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received via mail by close of polls on Election DayFirst-time voters who register to vote by mail cannot vote by absentee ballot. These voters must vote in person.TEXASVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received by close of business on October 30, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on Election DayUTAHVoter Registration: Postmarked on or before October 9, 2012 (via mail). Submitted in person or online by October 22, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before November 2, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked on or before November 5, 2012, and received no later than noon of the day of the Official Canvass, which varies from one to 14 days after an electionVERMONTVoter Registration: Received by 5pm on or before October 31, 2012Absentee ballot application: Received by 5:00 pm or close of business on November 5, 2012Voted absentee ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on Election DayVIRGINIAVoter Registration Deadline: Received on or before October 15, 2012Earliest day to apply for an Absentee Ballot: 365 days before the electionAbsentee Ballot Application Deadline: Received by 5:00 pm on October 30, 2012, if requested by mail. Received by November 3, 2012, if applying and casting absentee ballot in personVoted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on Election Day*If you register to vote by mail, you must vote in person the first time you vote unless you are a full time college student; on active duty military’ residing overseas; physically handicapped; or age 65+ (with another qualifying reason, as age alone is not a justification). First-time voters who register in person may vote by absentee ballot.WASHINGTONVoter Registration, Address/Voter Information Update: Postmarked on or before October 6, 2012 (by mail). First-time voters may submit in person on or before October 29, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: No specific deadline for requesting an early ballot (all voters receive ballots via mail, beginning at least 18 days prior to the election). We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the electionVoted Absentee Ballot/Voted Ballots: Postmarked on or before Election DayWEST VIRGINIAVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 16, 2012Absentee Ballot Application: Received on or before October 31, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked by Election Day and received by the Canvass Day, November 12, 2012WISCONSINVoter Registration Form: Postmarked on or before October 17, 2012. You may also register in person on Election Day.Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 5:00 pm on November 1, 2012Voted Absentee Ballot: Delivered in person no later than Election Day or postmarked no later than Election Day and received no later than 4:00 pm on November 9, 2012WYOMINGVoter Registration Form: Received on or before October 22, 2012. You may also register in person on Election DayAbsentee Ballot Application: No specific deadline, but you can’t apply on Election Day. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the electionVoted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:00 pm on Election DayEven if you’re not actually traveling on Election Day, registering for an absentee ballot can be a good idea to make sure you get your vote in. After all, things come up, you might have to get to work early or stay late, or any other myriad reasons that you might not make it to the polls, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to vote come Election Day![card card-name=‘Ink Plus® Business Credit Card’ card-id=‘22129636’ type=‘javascript’ bullet-id=‘1’]
