The first batch of mail-in ballots for the 2024 U.S. elections will be sent to voters starting this week, with priority typically given to service members and overseas voters. According to federal law, ballots must be mailed at least 45 days before Election Day, making this year’s deadline September 21.
While the presidential election is still two months away, some states have decided to get a head start in distributing the ballots to voters.
The key swing state of North Carolina announced on its website that county election boards will begin sending ballots to all eligible voters who have applied for mail-in ballots starting from September 6 (Friday), including military personnel and overseas voters.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections also noted that despite independent presidential candidate Small Kennedy withdrawing from the race and endorsing Trump, his name will still appear on the state’s November ballot. This is because the board has already printed 2 million ballots with Kennedy’s name, and the first batch of ballots will be sent to voters within 8 days, so there won’t be a reprint of new ballots.
Another crucial state, Pennsylvania, will start mailing out ballots 50 days before the election, on September 16.
Other states planning to begin sending out ballots more than 45 days before the election include: Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
At the same time, Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming will start mailing out ballots to voters 45 days prior to the election.
The National Association of State Legislatures pointed out that voter registration deadlines in most states are set between 8 to 30 days before the election. For example, one of this year’s key swing states, Georgia, has a voter registration deadline of October 7, which is considered relatively late.
In addition to mail-in ballots, all states that allow early voting will offer some form of in-person voting, but the rules and start dates vary significantly. Some states will start early in-person voting as early as September 20.