The 13 states that make it challenging to vote

Thirteen states require an excuse in order to vote absentee and have no early voting: election day is it.

Can’t get off work? Can’t afford to not go to work? Tough luck.

Have no one to babysit the kids after work? Tough luck.

Need to go out of town at the last minute? May be tough luck for that, too. One state deadline (Rhode Island) for requesting an absentee ballot is four weeks before the election.

1. Alabama (eligibility)
   Deadline to request ballot: Thu Nov 1, 2018
2. Delaware (eligibility)
   Deadline to request ballot: Mon Nov 5, 2018 12:00pm EST
3. Kentucky (eligibility)
   Deadline to request ballot: Tue Oct 30, 2018
4. Massachusetts (eligibility)
   Deadline to request ballot: Mon Nov 5, 2018 12:00pm EST
5. Michigan (eligibility)
   Deadline to request ballot: Sat Nov 3, 2018 2:00pm
6. Mississippi (eligibility (pdf))
   Deadline to request ballot: none
7. Missouri (eligibility)
   Deadline to request ballot: Wed Oct 31, 2018 5:00pm CDT
8. New Hampshire (eligibility (pdf))
   Deadline to request ballot: Mon Nov 5, 2018 5:00pm EST
9. New York (eligibility)
   Deadline to request ballot: postmarked by Tue Oct 30, 2018
   In-person by Mon Nov 5, 2018
10. Pennsylvania (eligibility)
    Deadline to request ballot: Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:00pm EDT
11. Rhode Island (eligibility)
    Deadline to request ballot: Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:00pm EDT
12. South Carolina (eligibility)
    Deadline to request ballot: Fri Nov 2, 2018 5:00pm EDT
13. Virginia (eligibility)
    Deadline to request postal ballot: Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:00pm EDT
    In-person by Sat Nov 3, 2018 5:00pm EDT

Learn more about deadlines for returning your absentee ballot.