States that require an excuse for absentee voting

2019 data

Twenty states limit absentee ballot access to vote-by-mail.

• AL, AK, CT, DE, IN, KY, LA, MA, MI, MO, MS, NH, NY, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV

These deadlines are for in-state voters, not military voters and their families or permanent overseas voters.

1. Alabama (eligibility )
   Deadline to request ballot: Thu Nov 1, 2018
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   Postmarked by Mon Nov 5, 2018 and received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 12:00pm
   In-person by Mon Nov 5, 2018 5:00pm
   
2. Arkansas (eligibility )
   Deadline to request postal ballot, Tue Oct 30, 2018
   Deadline to request email ballot, Tue Oct 30, 2018
   Deadline to request ballot in-person, Mon Nov 5, 2018
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   In-person, received by Mon Nov 5, 2018
   Mailed, received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 7:30pm
3. Connecticut (eligibility )
   Deadline to request ballot: Mon Nov 5, 2018
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   In-person, received by Mon Nov 5, 2018
   Mailed, received by Tue Nov 6, 2018
4. Delaware (eligibility )
   Deadline to request ballot: Mon Nov 5, 2018 12:00pm EST
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 8:00pm EST
5. Indiana (eligibility )
   Deadline to request postal ballot, Mon Oct 29, 2018 11:59pm
   Deadline to request in-person ballot, Mon Nov 5, 2018 12:00pm
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 6:00pm
6. Kentucky (eligibility )
   Deadline to request ballot: Tue Oct 30, 2018
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 6:00pm EST
7. Louisiana (eligibility )
   Deadline to request ballot: Fri Nov 2, 2018 4:30pm CDT
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   Received by Mon Nov 5, 2018 4:30pm CST
8. Massachusetts (eligibility )
   Deadline to request ballot: Mon Nov 5, 2018 12:00pm EST
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018
9. Michigan (eligibility )
   Deadline to request ballot: Sat Nov 3, 2018 2:00pm
   + Absentee ballot return deadlines
   Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 8:00pm
10. Mississippi (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: none
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    In person, received by Sat Nov 3, 2018 12:00pm CDT
    Mailed, received by Mon Nov 5, 2018 5:00pm CST
11. Missouri (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Wed Oct 31, 2018 5:00pm CDT
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018
12. New Hampshire (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Mon Nov 5, 2018 5:00pm EST
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    In-person, received by Mon Nov 5, 2018 5:00pm EST
    Mailed, received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 5:00pm EST
13. New York (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: postmarked by Tue Oct 30, 2018
    In-person by Mon Nov 5, 2018
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    Postmarked by
    Mon Nov 5, 2018
    In-person, received by Tue Nov 6, 2018
    Mailed, received by Tue Nov 13, 2018
14. Pennsylvania (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:00pm EDT
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    Received by Fri Nov 2, 2018 5:00pm EDT
15. Rhode Island (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:00pm EDT
    In-person, emergency application: Mon Nov 5, 2018 4:00pm EDT
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 8:00pm EST
16. South Carolina (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Fri Nov 2, 2018 5:00pm EDT
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 7:00pm EST
17. Tennessee (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Tue Oct 30, 2018
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 8:00pm EST
18. Texas (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Fri Oct 26, 2018
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    In person, received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 7:00pm CST
    Postmarked by Tue Nov 6, 2018 7:00pm CST and received by
    Wed Nov 7, 2018 5:00pm CST
19. Virginia (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:00pm EDT
    In-person, Sat Nov 3, 2018 5:00pm EDT
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    Received by Tue Nov 6, 2018 7:00pm EST
20. West Virginia (eligibility )
    Deadline to request ballot: Wed Oct 31, 2018
    + Absentee ballot return deadlines
    In-person, received by Mon Nov 5, 2018
    Postmarked by Tue Nov 6, 2018 and received by Mon Nov 12, 2018