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Nothing seems usual about these political times, but one thing has changed: more states than ever now allow for voting by mail.
Eight states and districts send mail-in ballots to all registered voters. Twenty-eight states offer no-excuse absentee voting, which means you can request and receive a mail-in ballot without having to provide a reason. In the rest of the states, you can request an absentee ballot for various reasons, whether it's because of travel, health, or other reasons.
Here's what you need to know.
Does My State Offer Mail-In Voting?
If you live in California, Colorado, D.C., Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, you should receive a mail-in ballot by default if you're a registered voter. Check the status of your voter registration well before Election Day.
What States Offer No-Excuse Absentee Voting?
The National Conference of State Legislatures has a complete and updated list of states with no-excuse absentee voting. As of now they are Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Am I Eligible to Get an Absentee Ballot in My State If It Is Not on These Lists?
For all other states, the National Conference of State Legislatures has a list of states with reasons they will allow absentee ballots.
How Do I Get a Ballot?
For details on your state, go to this Can I Vote absentee ballot page from the National Association of Secretaries of State and select your state from the drop-down menu.
You can also go to Vote.org's absentee ballot request page. The site also has a list of absentee ballot application deadlines.
What If I'm in the Military or Live Overseas?
The United States Election Assistance Commission has everything you need to know.