One way to vote is in your own home by a vote-by-mail ballot. Everyone who has the right to vote is permitted to vote by mail.
Steps to Vote by Mail
1. Request your ballot
You or an immediate family member can request your ballot on your local Supervisor of Elections website. You must request a Vote by Mail ballot by 5 pm of the sixth day before the election.
2. Receive your ballot
Check your mailbox! The Supervisor of Elections will send out the vote-by-mail ballots no later than four days before the election.
3. Fill out your ballot
If you need assistance completing out your ballot, anyone can help you to mark your ballot, except:
- Your employer
- An agent of your employer
- An officer or agent of your union
4. Mail your ballot
Place a stamp on the envelope and mail the ballot back to your Supervisor of Elections.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Voting by Mail
Advantages
- It’s convenient, and you can control your election experience.
- You can fill it out at a pace that works for you from the comfort of your home.
- You don’t need to worry about transportation to the polls, waiting in long lines, or the inaccessibility of an Election Day polling place.
Disadvantages
- Paper ballots are not accessible for everyone.
- You may feel it is important to vote in person at the polls to stress the need for having accessible polling places and equipment.
Whichever you choose, your vote counts!
Forget to Sign?
If you are notified that you forgot to sign the certificate with your vote-by-mail ballot, complete a Vote-by-Mail Ballot Cure Affidavit form. Send it back with a copy of your identification no later than 5 pm on the second day after the election.