Student Guide to Out-of-State Voting
Editors Note:
Sources used to verify dates listed below- vote.gov, eac.gov, and vote.org.
University of Missouri students have various options for registering to vote. For students who are able to make it to their home state before Election Day, registration is available at local election offices. For those who cannot make it home to register, registration is available by mail or online in most states. A valid ID or proof of residency is usually required to register to vote.
To register by mail students may need a notary to sign off on their application. Three notaries are available at various locations in the MU Student Center. Notaries are located in the Center for Student Involvement, the Women’s Center and the Student Affairs Leadership Suite. Students can mail their registration forms from the front desk of their residence hall or the customer service desk in the MU Student Center.
Online registration can be found on state websites and vote.org.
Those who cannot make it back to vote at their permanent address can request absentee ballots. Absentee ballots are conducted by mail; the ballot will be mailed to the address you provide when you put in your request. Click here to check the status of your ballot.
Deadlines for voter registration vary by state. Some states allow in-person registration until Election Day, but others have earlier deadlines.
Requirements and deadlines for absentee ballots vary by state, but all states have a way to vote if it isn’t possible to be at a regular polling location.
Alabama
Registration:
- In-person: October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online: October 21, 15 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by October 31, five days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by noon on Election day
Alaska
Registration:
- In-person: October 6, 30 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 6, 30 days before Election Day
- Online: October 6, 30 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by October 26, 10 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by October 26, 10 days before election day
- Online request: received by October 26, 10 days before Election day
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election day and received by November 15, 10 days after Election Day
Arizona
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 5 p.m. on October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. on October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 5 p.m. on October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
Arkansas
- In-person: October 6, 30 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 6, 30 days before Election Day
- Online: N/A
- In-person request: received by November 1, the Friday before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 29, 7 days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day
California
Registration:
- In-person: October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online: October 21, 15 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
All registered voters in California will automatically have an absentee ballot sent to their home address. To change the address the ballot should be sent to, voters can contact their local election official. The deadline to change the address of your mail-in ballot is October 29, the seventh day before Election Day, but voters should plan to request this at least one month before the election to allow time for the ballot to be delivered.
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election Day and received no later than November 12, seven days after the election
Colorado
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 28, eight days before Election Day
- Online: October 28, eight days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register at a polling center and cast their vote the same day during the early voting period or on Election Day
Absentee Voting:
All registered voters in Colorado will automatically have an absentee ballot sent to their home address. To change the address the ballot should be sent to, voters can contact their local election official. The deadline to change the address of your mail-in ballot is October 28, eight days before Election Day, but voters should plan to request this at least one month before the election to allow time for the ballot to be delivered.
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
Connecticut
Registration:
- In-person: received by October 18, 18 days before Election Day
- By mail: received by October 18, 18 days before Election Day
- Online: received by October 18, 18 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: If the registration deadline has passed, voters can register in person and vote in-person on Election Day or during the early voting period
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by November 4, one day before election day
- By mail request: received by November 4, one day before Election Day, recommended to apply at least seven days before Election Day
- Online request: Election Day, but recommended to apply two weeks before deadline
- Absentee ballot due date: received by close of polls on Election day
Delaware
Registration:
- In-person: October 12, 24 days before before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 12, 24 days before Election Day
- Online: October 12, 24 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by noon on November 4, the day before Election Day
- By mail request: received by November 1, four days before Election Day
- Online request: received by November 1, four days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
District of Columbia
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: received by October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register at their polling place during early voting and on Election Day. Proof of residency must be provided
Absentee Voting:
All registered voters in the District of Columbia will automatically have an absentee ballot sent to their home address. To change the address the ballot should be sent to, voters can submit a request by mail or online. The deadline to change the address of your mail-in ballot is October 21, 15 days before Election Day.
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked on or by Election Day and received by November 15, 10 days after Election Day
Florida
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: received by or postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 5 p.m. October 24, 12 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. October 24, 12 days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 5 p.m. October 24, 12 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
Georgia
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- In-person request: received October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by the time polls close on Election Day
Hawaii
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 28, 10 days before Election Day
- Online: Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register both online and in person on Election Day. Registration is available at polling locations on Election Day or during the early voting period
All registered voters in Hawaii will automatically have an absentee ballot sent to their home address. To change the address the ballot should be sent to, voters can submit a request by mail to their local election official. The deadline to change the address of your mail-in ballot is October 29, seven days before Election Day.
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
Idaho
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 11, 25 days before Election Day
- Online: October 12, 24 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register online or at their polling location on Election Day or during the early voting period. Proof of residence and a photo ID is required to register
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 5 p.m. on November 1, the Friday before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 5 p.m. October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
Illinois
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 8, 28 days before Election Day
- Online: received by October 20, 16 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can participate in “Grace Period Voting” of the registration deadline
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received November 4, one day before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 31, 5 days before Election Day
- Online request: received October 31, 5 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election Day and received 14 days after Election Day
Indiana
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received October 24, 12 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 24, 12 days before Election Day
- Online request: received October 24, 12 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 6 p.m. on Election Day
Iowa
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online: October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Election day registration: Voters can register to vote at their polling place and cast their vote the same day during early voting or on Election Day
- In-person request: received November 4, one day before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received before 8 p.m. on Election Day
Kansas
Registration:
- In-person: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- In-person request: received October 29, seven days before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election Day and received three days after Election Day
Kentucky
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: N/A
- By mail request: N/A
- Online request: received October 22, 14 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 6 p.m. on Election Day
Louisiana
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 4:30 p.m. November 1, four days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 4:30 p.m. November 1, four days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 4:30 p.m. November 1, four days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 4:30 p.m. November 4, one day before Election Day
Maine
Registration:
- In-person: received by close of polls on Election Day
- By mail: received by close of business on October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: received by October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: To register to vote on Election Day, voters must register at the municipal registrar
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received November 2, three business days before Election Day
- By mail request: received November 2, three business days before Election Day
- Online request: received November 2, three business days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day
Maryland
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register to vote in person during early voting or on Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: Election Day
- By mail request: received seven days before Election Day
- Online request: received October 29, seven days before Election day for mail-in ballot, received by November 1, four days before Election Day for online ballot
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked on or before Election Day and received by 10 a.m. 10 days after Election Day
Massachusetts
Registration:
- In-person: October 26, 10 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 26, 10 days before Election Day
- Online: October 26, 10 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 5 p.m. October 31, five business days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. October 31, five business days before Election Day, recommended seven days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 5 p.m. October 29, seven business days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by Election Day
Michigan
Registration:
- In-person: any time up to 8 p.m. on Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online: October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register to vote and cast their vote at the same time on Election Day at the city or township clerk’s office
Absentee Voting:
- In-person: any time up to 8 p.m. on Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online: October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register to vote and cast their vote at the same time on Election Day at the city or township clerk’s office
Minnesota
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: received by 5 p.m. on October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: 11:59 p.m. on October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Election day registration: Voters can register to vote and cast their vote at the same time during early voting or on Election Day at their regular polling place
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received before Election Day, recommended by October 29, seven days before Election Day
- By mail request: received before Election Day, recommended by October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: received before Election Day, recommended by October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
Mississippi
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: N/A
- In-person request: no specific deadline
- By mail request: no specific deadline, recommended by October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election Day and received within five business days of Election Day
Montana
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: N/A
- Election day registration: Voters can register to vote and vote on Election Day with the late registration option
- In-person request: received by noon November 4, one day before Election Day
- By mail request: received by noon one day before Election Day, recommended to apply by October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
Nebraska
Registration:
- In-person: received by October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 18, 18 days before Election Days
- Online: received by October 18, 18 days before Election Day
- In-person request: received October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by close of polls on Election Day
Nevada
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 8, 28 days before Election Day
- Online: October 23, 13 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register to vote at their polling place during early voting or on Election Day
All registered voters in Nevada will automatically have an absentee ballot sent to their home address. To change the address the ballot should be sent to, voters can submit a request to their local election official. The deadline to change the address of your mail-in ballot is one month before Election Day.
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked on or before Election Day and received four days after Election Day
New Hampshire
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: received by Election Day
- Online: N/A
- Election Day registration: Voters can register and vote at the same time at their polling place during early voting or on Election Day
- In-person request: no specific deadline
- By mail request: no specific deadline, recommended by October 22, 14 days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 5 p.m. on Election Day
New Jersey
Registration:
- In-person: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- In-person request: received by 3 p.m. November 4, the day before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day and received six days after Election Day
New Mexico
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 8, 28 days before Election Day
- Online: October 8, 28 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register and vote at the same time at their County Clerk’s office or their polling place
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received October 22, 14 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 22, 14 days before Election Day
- Online request: received October 22, 14 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
New York
Registration:
- In-person: October 26, 10 days before Election Day
- By mail: received by October 26, 10 days before Election Day
- Online: October 26, 10 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received November 4, one day before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online request: received October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked on or before Election Day and received seven days after Election Day
North Carolina
Registration:
- In-person: November 2 at 3 p.m., 3 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 11, 25 days before Election Day
- Online: October 11, 25 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register and vote on the same day during the early voting period
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 5 p.m. October 29, seven days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: received October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked on or before Election Day
North Dakota
Registration:
Voter registration is not required in North Dakota, any eligible voter can vote as long as they have acceptable identification
- In-person request: no specific deadline
- By mail request: no specific deadline, recommended at least October 29, seven days before Election day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked November 4, one day before Election Day
Ohio
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- In-person request: received by the close of business October 29, seven days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by the close of business October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked no later than November 4, the day before Election Day and received no later than four days after Election Day
Oklahoma
Registration:
- In-person: October 11, 25 days before Election Day
- By mail: received by October 11, 25 days before Election Day
- Online: October 11, 25 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 5 p.m. October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 5 p.m. October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
Oregon
Registration:
- In-person: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
All registered voters in Oregon will automatically have an absentee ballot sent to their home address. To change the address the ballot should be sent to, voters can submit a request to their local election official. The deadline to change the address of your mail-in ballot is 8 p.m. on Election Day, however it’s recommended to update in advance.
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election Day and received no later than seven days after Election Day
Pennsylvania
Registration:
- In-person: received by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- By mail: received by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online: received by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 5 p.m. October 29, seven days before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 5 p.m. October 29, the first Tuesday before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
Rhode Island
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 18, 30 days before Election Day
- Online: October 18, 30 days before Election Day
- Election day registration: In-person voter registration is available for presidential elections on Election Day at Local Board of Canvassers offices.
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received by 4 p.m. October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 4 p.m. October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 4 p.m. October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
South Carolina
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- In-person request: received by 5 p.m. October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. November 1, four days before Election Day, recommended at least two weeks before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
South Dakota
- In-person: October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- By mail: received by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online: N/A
- In-person request: November 4, one day before Election Day, recommended at least seven days before
- By mail request: received November 4, one day before Election Day, recommended at least seven days before
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by Election Day
Tennessee
Registration:
- In-person: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: October 7, 29 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: N/A
- By mail request: received October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: received October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
Texas
- In-person: received by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 7, 29 days before Election Day
- Online: N/A
- In-person request: received October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day, received by 5 p.m. the day after Election Day
Utah
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: received by 5 p.m. on October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Online: October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register to vote by provisional ballot during early voting and on Election Day
All registered voters in Utah will automatically have an absentee ballot sent to their home address. To change the address the ballot should be sent to, voters can submit a request to their local election official. The deadline to change the address of your mail-in ballot is October 25, 11 days before Election Day.
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked the day before Election Day
Vermont
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: received by Election Day
- Online: Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register to vote by all methods through Election Day. Registration is also available at polling places on Election Day.
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received November 4, one day before Election Day
- By mail request: received November 4, one day before Election Day, recommended at least 7 days before Election Day
- Online request: received November 4, one day before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by the close of business November 4, the day before Election Day
Virginia
Registration:
- In-person: received by close of business on October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: received November 2, three days before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 5 p.m. October 25, 11 days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election Day and received by noon three days after Election Day
Washington
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: received by October 28, eight days before Election Day
- Online: October 28, eight days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register at various locations on Election Day, including polling locations
All registered voters in Washington will automatically have an absentee ballot sent to their home address. To change the address the ballot should be sent to, voters can submit a request to their local election official. The deadline to change the address of your mail-in ballot is one month before Election Day.
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election Day
West Virginia
Registration:
- In-person: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- Online: October 15, 21 days before Election Day
- In-person request: received October 30, six days before Election Day
- By mail request: received October 30, six days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: postmarked by Election Day and received no later than five days after Election Day
Wisconsin
Registration:
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: postmarked by October 16, 20 days before Election Day
- Online: October 16, 20 days before Election Day
- Election Day registration: Voters can register to vote at polling places on Election Day
Absentee Voting:
- In-person request: November 3, the Sunday before Election Day
- By mail request: received by 5 p.m. October 31, five days before Election Day
- Online request: received by 5 p.m. October 31, five days before Election Day
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
Wyoming
- In-person: Election Day
- By mail: received by October 21, 15 days before Election Day
- Online: N/A
- Election day registration: Voters can register to vote at polling places on Election Day
- In-person request: received November 4, one day before Election Day
- By mail request: received November 4, one day before Election Day, recommended to apply October 29, seven days before Election Day
- Online request: N/A
- Absentee ballot due date: received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
Information written by Keara Connolly, design by Matthew Jacobi
