Voting by Mail This Election Season? Make Sure It Counts

A postmark rule change and a patchwork of state requirements mean returning a ballot by mail promptly is more important than ever

Miriam Cross,

AARP

Comments

Published May 08, 2026

Benjamin Currie

Key takeaways

Rules for requesting a mail-in ballot vary by state, including deadlines and whether a reason is required.
Small details matter, such as how you sign your name, and mistakes can void a vote.
USPS now postmarks letters with the date they are processed at a postal facility, not the date they go into a mailbox. Voters should factor in additional time to return ballots.

Filling out a ballot from your kitchen table and slipping it in the mail may not carry the same gravitas as heading to your polling station on Election Day, but it’s quick, convenient and beats hours spent standing in line.

This method of voting is particularly important for people with disabilities, illnesses or full-time caregiving responsibilities, or those who have to work on Election Day or may be traveling out of the area.

Absentee voting, mail-in voting or “vote at home” generally refer to the practice of letting voters send or drop off their ballots instead of completing this task at a polling place.

The popularity of voting by mail has almost tripled since 2000, according to a 2024 report by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab. It’s a more popular option among older voters than any other age group. Nearly 37 percent of those 65 and older chose this method in November 2024, according to Census Bureau data.

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“For millions of older Americans, mail-in and absentee voting aren’t just convenient, they’re necessary,” says John Hishta, senior vice president of campaigns at AARP. “It’s a safe, secure way to make sure your voice is heard without having to stand in long lines or travel far from home.”

But voters should be aware of changes that go into effect this year. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has tweaked its postmark procedures, and a looming Supreme Court case may affect mail-in ballot deadlines in more than a dozen states this year. Some states have more complex requirements to cast a ballot remotely, such as finding a notary or witness to sign the form.

That makes it more important than ever to review your state’s instructions carefully and leave plenty of time to request, fill in and return your ballot. Here are the top things you can do to ensure your vote is counted.

Request your mail-in ballot promptly

Eight states and Washington, D.C., automatically mail ballots to all voters, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a member organization that publishes bipartisan policy research. Elsewhere, you need to request a ballot by mail, in person or, if your state allows, electronically.

Most states let you download and print an application form from your secretary of state or state election website, says Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, president and CEO of the U.S. Vote Foundation, a voter services nonprofit. Otherwise, you can get one from your local election office. Although application deadlines vary by state — some even let you apply for a mail-in ballot the day before the election — it’s best to acquire your ballot as soon as it’s available. You can find instructions on your state’s voter information website by clicking on the map below.

In most parts of the U.S., you don’t need to explain why you want an absentee ballot, but 14 states do require a reason. Being out of the country on Election Day or having an illness or disability that will prevent you from traveling to the polls are always valid excuses; depending on the state, a work shift that conflicts with voting hours or advanced age may also count.

Checking a box on the ballot application with your reason is usually sufficient. “Election officials will mostly take your word for it,” says Katy Owens Hubler, director of elections and redistricting at the NCSL.

Follow instructions on your mail-in ballot carefully

You might be able to get away with glancing at the directons while setting up your new TV and then using trial and error, but the stakes are higher when it comes to your ballot.

“It’s really important to follow the instructions,” says Amber McReynolds, founder of the National Vote at Home Institute and one of the authors of Colorado’s vote-by-mail law.

The instructions will be very specific and must be followed to the letter, McReynolds says. For example: “If it says, ‘Use black or blue ink’ or ‘Fill in just the oval’ [on an optical scanner ballot], that’s really, really important.”

This is not a case of if you’ve seen one ballot, you’ve seen them all. U.S. elections are run by states, counties and cities, so ballots can be different in every jurisdiction, and the instructions may be too.

In most states, ballots consist of multiple pages listing contests that range from federal to local and could also include ballot initiatives.

Make sure you’ve decided which candidate you want to choose before you mark your ballot. A stray mark or a check in the oval instead of filling it in completely can invalidate your ballot.

If you do make a mistake, contact your local elections office to get another ballot. But it’s best to try to fill it in correctly the first time.

Vote by mail permanently

If you want to make sure you get a mail-in ballot for every election, join your state’s permanent absentee ballot voting list, if it has one. Eight states let any voter register for this list, while others restrict eligibility to certain groups, such as those with permanent disabilities or who are 65 and older, according to NCSL data. Search your state’s voter information website for instructions on signing up; it may be as simple as checking a box on your registration form.

“A lot of older Americans have health and mobility issues that can make it difficult to travel to their polling pace,” says Lori Parham, a policy principal in government affairs at AARP. “They like being able to vote by mail, and for some, that is their only option.”

Watch out for USPS postmark rule changes

Returning your ballot promptly is crucial.

Many states want the envelope back by the time the polls close, although some will count a ballot that is received afterward, as long as it is postmarked on or before Election Day. But this practice is getting trickier to navigate. In December 2025, the USPS announced that it would postmark letters and packages with the date they are processed at a postal facility rather than the date they are deposited in a mailbox. That means a ballot popped in the mail shortly before the election may now be considered late in some states.

“If you have a couple weeks for it to get back, OK,” Dzieduszycka-Suinat says. But when cutting it close, deposit your envelope in a secure drop box (if your state has them) or deliver it by hand to your local election office.

“The minute you receive your absentee ballot, think about getting it out the next day if you can,” Dzieduszycka-Suinat advises. Many states let someone else return a ballot in person on behalf of a voter, although this may be limited to a family member or caregiver.

Owens Hubler acknowledges that people are tempted to wait until the last minute. “They like to see what happens in the campaigns,” she says. But you can speed up the process by studying your sample ballot in advance (go to your state election website or use the lookup tool at Ballotpedia.org) and researching the candidates.

The Supreme Court is currently deciding whether to overturn a law in Mississippi that counts ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days afterward. The ruling, which is expected this summer, could affect the 14 states that offer similar grace periods and the District of Columbia, and it may mean voters need to return their ballots even earlier to ensure they are received on time.

Sign your mail-in ballot, don’t scrawl

Sign your name neatly in the designated space before returning your mail-in ballot. Election officials may compare this signature to the one on your voter registration record or absentee application to confirm they are from the same person.

If you forget to sign your ballot or the writing doesn’t match, an election official may contact you to “cure,” or correct, your ballot. Not all states offer this second chance, and for the ones that do, the timing can be tight. Owens Hubler says the methods vary across states: You may have to come in person, mail a form or use text messaging.

“Don’t take your signature for granted,” Dzieduszycka-Suinat says. “It’s part of your identification.”

In a handful of states, you will need to take extra steps. This can include placing your ballot inside a “secrecy sleeve” before sealing and signing the return envelope, finding witnesses or a notary to sign your return envelope, or enclose a copy of your ID. Read the instructions carefully because the differences between states can be slight — and if not followed, they can derail the process.