Absentee Requirements

Every state provides options for at least some voters to cast their ballots without having to appear in-person at a polling place. The majority of states permit absentee voting, which allows voters to cast their ballot without going to a traditional polling place, in most cases by voting through the mail. States differ in the requirements to qualify to vote absentee, with some states allowing any voter to do so and others requiring an excuse, such as a medical emergency. States that conduct all-mail elections, where every eligible voter is mailed a ballot, are categorized here as no-excuse absentee states.