{
  "dataset": "absentee-voting-laws",
  "title": "Absentee & Mail Voting Rules by State",
  "as_of": "July 2026",
  "last_verified": "August 5, 2026",
  "source": "National Conference of State Legislatures",
  "source_url": "https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/voting-outside-the-polling-place",
  "publisher": "The Liberty Tribune",
  "publisher_url": "https://thelibertytribune.com",
  "license": "https://thelibertytribune.com/republish/",
  "canonical": "https://thelibertytribune.com/trackers/absentee-voting-rules-by-state/",
  "rows": 51,
  "data": [
    {
      "state": "Alabama",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must cite a qualifying excuse such as illness, absence, or work to receive an absentee mail ballot."
    },
    {
      "state": "Alaska",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Arizona",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any voter may request a mail ballot; an active early voter list automatically mails ballots to enrollees."
    },
    {
      "state": "Arkansas",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must provide a qualifying excuse, such as illness or absence, to vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "California",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required."
    },
    {
      "state": "Colorado",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required."
    },
    {
      "state": "Connecticut",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Following a 2024 constitutional amendment, any voter may request an absentee ballot without an excuse."
    },
    {
      "state": "Delaware",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "A qualifying excuse is required after the state's no-excuse law was struck down by its supreme court."
    },
    {
      "state": "Florida",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Georgia",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Hawaii",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required."
    },
    {
      "state": "Idaho",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Illinois",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Indiana",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must have a qualifying excuse, such as absence or disability, to vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "Iowa",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Kansas",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an advance mail ballot without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Kentucky",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must cite a qualifying excuse, such as illness or absence, to vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "Louisiana",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must provide a qualifying excuse, such as absence or disability, to vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "Maine",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Maryland",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Massachusetts",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Michigan",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Minnesota",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Mississippi",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must have a qualifying excuse, such as absence or disability, to vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Mail absentee ballots require a qualifying excuse, though no-excuse early in-person voting is available."
    },
    {
      "state": "Montana",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Nebraska",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any voter may request a mail ballot without a reason; small counties may opt into all-mail elections."
    },
    {
      "state": "Nevada",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required."
    },
    {
      "state": "New Hampshire",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must cite a qualifying excuse, such as absence, illness, or disability, to vote absentee."
    },
    {
      "state": "New Jersey",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "New Mexico",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "New York",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee or early mail ballot without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "North Carolina",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "North Dakota",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any voter may request a mail ballot without a reason; counties may conduct elections by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "Ohio",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Oklahoma",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required."
    },
    {
      "state": "Pennsylvania",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request a no-excuse mail-in ballot without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Rhode Island",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request a mail ballot without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "South Carolina",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must have a qualifying excuse, such as illness, absence, or disability, to vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "South Dakota",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Tennessee",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must cite a qualifying excuse, such as absence or illness, to vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "Texas",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Only voters who are 65+, disabled, absent, or confined may vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "Utah",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required."
    },
    {
      "state": "Vermont",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for general elections; no request is required."
    },
    {
      "state": "Virginia",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Washington",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required."
    },
    {
      "state": "West Virginia",
      "category": "excuse",
      "summary": "Voters must have a qualifying excuse, such as illness, absence, or disability, to vote absentee by mail."
    },
    {
      "state": "Wisconsin",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "Wyoming",
      "category": "no-excuse",
      "summary": "Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without providing a reason."
    },
    {
      "state": "District of Columbia",
      "category": "all-mail",
      "summary": "Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required."
    }
  ]
}