Election Day arrives on November 5, 2024, and it’s time to make sure that you are registered to vote! You may find yourself wondering how you can possibly vote in the upcoming election. Luckily, absentee ballots allow you to vote for your preferred candidates from the comfort of your own home. While the rules for acquiring an absentee ballot may seem intimidating, don’t stress—it’s very easy to register for an absentee ballot and make your voice heard in November.
While voting by absentee ballot seems complicated, it’s actually a very easy process and a great way to exercise your right to vote while hardly ever leaving your couch. There are so many resources out there that detail how to register to vote and request your absentee ballot; if you have further questions that aren’t answered in either this guide or online, ask friends, family members, or even election officials in your state for assistance. They’ll be happy to help.
Make Sure you are already registered to vote.
Using this handy form, you can check your voter registration status. (I filled out the form myself and just like it says at the top, it literally takes 30 seconds.) If you are registered to vote, you are ready to request an absentee ballot! If you’re not, register to vote here with Her Campus and DoSomething.
Keep in mind that deadlines for voter registration vary from state to state, so be sure to check your state’s registration deadlines when you register.
Request your absentee ballot.
If you’re registered to vote in your college town but you’ll be at home for the election, or vice versa, an absentee ballot is perfect for you.
The deadlines for receiving absentee ballots are different than the deadlines for registering to vote. These deadlines also vary depending on the state in which you reside. Furthermore, it’s important to read up on the eligibility requirements for applying for an absentee ballot in your state.
Registering for an absentee ballot takes only two minutes. You simply fill out your personal information, including the address where you’re registered to vote and the address where you want your absentee ballot delivered, and then you will receive an email with your absentee form. Once you’ve printed, signed, and dated your absentee form, you mail it to the address provided on the form. Make sure you correctly indicate which elections you would like to vote in on the form — there may be a primary or some other election in your state before the 2024 presidential election, so if you are planning on voting in those as well, be sure to also check off those boxes.
Be sure to fill out the entire form and return it ASAP in case any issues with the form arise.
Vote!
When you receive your absentee ballot, cast your vote and carefully follow all of the instructions on your ballot to ensure your vote is counted. Afterward, mail your ballot back to the address, and you’re done! If you’re worried about your ballot not being received, it’s totally okay to contact the address where you mailed your ballot and double-check that it was, in fact, received.