In the U.S. 2016 general election, about 40% of eligible voters didn’t cast a ballot. Among the most-cited reasons for not voting were disliking the candidates or campaign issues and not feeling like their votes would make a difference, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center analysis.
Other reasons were logistical in nature—they were too busy, were traveling, faced problems registering or simply forgot to vote. Some effective ways to help sidestep these problems are to register early, mark voting deadlines in your calendar, and check whether your state allows early voting and online registration, so you can register and vote when it fits your schedule best.
To make it a bit easier, we’ve compiled a list of national and state deadlines for the 2020 general election. All you have to do now is pencil them in. You’ll also want to double-check your polling location and hours, which could be altered due COVID-19.
Important Dates for the Election
- National Voter Registration Day – Sept. 22
- First presidential debate – Sept. 29
- Vice presidential debate – Oct. 7
- Second presidential debate – Oct. 15
- Third presidential debate – Oct. 22
- National Vote Early Day – Oct. 24
- General Election – Nov. 3
State Deadlines
Click on your state to find your registration deadlines.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Alabama
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 19
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 29
Alaska
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 4
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 24 for mailed ballot; Nov. 2 for online or faxed ballot.
Arizona
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 23
Arkansas
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 27 for mailed or emailed request; Nov. 2 for in-person request.
California
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 19 for mail-in registration; Oct. 20 for online registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Ballot automatically mailed.
Colorado*
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 26 to request a postal ballot; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Voters are automatically sent ballot by mail.
*All-mail voting
Connecticut
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 27
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2
Delaware
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 10
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2
District of Columbia
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 13; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Automatically mailed to every registered voter.
Florida
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 24 for mailed request; Oct. 31 for in-person request.
Georgia
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 30
Hawaii*
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 27
*All-mail voting
Idaho
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 9; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 23
Illinois
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 6 (plus a registration “grace period” through Election Day.); Oct. 18 for online registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 29 for mailed request; Nov. 2 for in-person request.
Indiana
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 22 for mailed request; Nov. 2 for in-person request.
Iowa
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 24; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 30
Kansas
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 13
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 27
Kentucky
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct 27
Louisiana
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 30
Maine
General Registration Deadline: There is no cut–off date for registering to vote in person at your town office or city hall. If you want to register to vote by mail or through a voter registration drive, the cut–off date is the close of business on the 21st day before the election.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 31
Maryland
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 13
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 27 for mailed request; Oct. 30 for online request; Nov. 3 for in-person request.
Massachusetts
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 24
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 28
Michigan
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 19 for registration online and by mail; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 30
Minnesota
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 13 for registration online and by mail; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2
Mississippi
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: No deadline.
Missouri
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 7
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 21
Montana
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5 for mail-in registration; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2
Nebraska
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 16 for online and mail-in registration; Oct. 23 for in-person registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 23
Nevada
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 6 for in-person and mail-in registration; Oct. 29 for online registration; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Automatically mailed to every registered voter.
New Hampshire
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 27; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2
New Jersey
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 13
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Automatically mailed to every active, registered voter.
New Mexico
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 6
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 20
New York
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 9
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2 for in-person request.
North Carolina
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 9
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 27
North Dakota
General Registration Deadline: Not required
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2
Ohio
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 31
Oklahoma
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 9
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 27
Oregon*
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 13
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 29
*All-mail voting
Pennsylvania
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 19
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 27
Rhode Island
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 4
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 13
South Carolina
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 2 for in-person registration; Oct. 4 for online, email or fax registration; Oct. 5 for mail-in registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 30
South Dakota
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 19
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2
Tennessee
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 27
Texas
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 5
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 23
Utah
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 23
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Automatically mailed to active, registered voters.
Vermont
General Registration Deadline: Nov. 3
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 2
Virginia
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 13
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 23 for mailed request; Oct. 31 for in-person request.
Washington*
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 26 for mail-in and online registration; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 26 for in-person request.
*All-mail voting
West Virginia
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 13
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 28
Wisconsin
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 14 for mail-in and online registration; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Oct. 29 for mailed request; Oct. 30 for in–person request.
Wyoming
General Registration Deadline: Oct. 19; Nov. 3 for in-person Election Day registration.
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Nov. 3
Ahead of the November election, we’re outfitting our co-op community—employees and members alike—with the tools they need to participate. Check out more Gear Up to Vote coverage.