Vote by Mail: A State-by-State Guide to Absentee Ballot Voting
With health authorities recommending people continue to social distance, the idea of voting by mail is becoming an increasingly hot topic.
Casting your ballot this November could be a lot more complicated thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. With health authorities recommending people continue to social distance, the idea of voting by mail is becoming an increasingly hot topic. Five states -- Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington -- already conduct their elections by mail. Ballots are automatically sent to registered voters at their last known address. They must then complete and send it back to their local board of elections by a specified date. The Kiplinger Letter expects more states to follow suit as the presidential election draws closer.
An option for registered voters in states where voting by mail isn't the status quo (and who are concerned about Election Day crowds) is to sign up for absentee voting on their own. To do this, you'll need to go to your state's board of elections website, complete and submit the absentee ballot application electronically or print it out and return it by mail as soon as possible -- especially if you have to mail the application in. Once approved, you'll be able to vote from home and avoid any potential exposure to the coronavirus. If you're not a registered voter, you need to register with your home state as soon as possible. To do so, you need to go to your state's voter registration website or visit www.vote.gov.
In 34 states, plus the District of Columbia, any qualified voter can request an absentee ballot without needing an excuse. For the rest of the country, a valid reason is needed to be approved for absentee voting. What qualifies as an acceptable excuse varies by state, but includes performing jury duty, being an election worker or being out of town at the time of the election.
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/vote-by-mail-a-state-by-state-guide-to-absentee-ballot-voting/ar-BB13ZSXX?li=BBnb7Kz
