Tracking Absentee Votes in the 2020 Election

Alabama

3,652,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 17.
(+10% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 9.

In 2016, 4 percent of all votes were cast early.

Alaska

588,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 3.
(+10% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials will start sending out ballots on Oct. 9.

In 2016, 32 percent of all votes were cast early.

Arizona

3,989,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 4.
(+11% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials will start sending out ballots on Oct. 7.

In 2016, 81 percent of all votes were cast early.

Arkansas

1,755,000 were registered to vote as of June 3.
(About the same number as 2016)

Absentee voting

All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots starting the week of Sept. 14.

In 2016, 58 percent of all votes were cast early.

California

20,921,000 were registered to vote as of July 3.
(+8% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials send out ballots no later than Oct. 5.

In 2016, 58 percent of all votes were cast early.

Colorado

4,009,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1.
(+5% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

Officials will start sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 9.

Connecticut

2,220,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 21.
(+2% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials will start sending out ballots on Oct. 2.

In 2016, 8 percent of all votes were cast early.

Delaware

726,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 4.
(+7% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials will start sending out ballots on Oct. 4.

In 2016, 6 percent of all votes were cast early.

Washington, D.C.

500,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 31.
(+4% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. The District sends out mail ballots starting the first week of October.

In 2016, 39 percent of all votes were cast early.

Florida

13,925,000 were registered to vote as of July 31.
(+7% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials will start sending out ballots on Sept. 24.

In 2016, 69 percent of all votes were cast early.

Georgia

7,002,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 17.
(+29% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 15.

In 2016, 59 percent of all votes were cast early.

Hawaii

795,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 8.
(+6% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Voters should expect to receive their ballot by Oct. 16.

In 2016, 54 percent of all votes were cast early.

Idaho

907,000 were registered to vote as of June 3.
(+12% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

All voters are allowed to vote absentee. By Oct. 5, officials must send out absentee ballots to all voters who have requested one up to that point. After Oct. 5, absentee ballots are mailed out on a rolling basis, as requests come in.

In 2016, 29 percent of all votes were cast early.

Illinois

8,710,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 15.
(–2% compared with 2016)

Absentee voting

Applications for absentee…