Haven't gotten around to sending that absentee ballot back? It may not be too late. By our count, there are 22 states and three territories where you still have a shot at voting by absentee ballot, especially if you've already registered to vote.
Some states will still accept your ballot up to a certain time after Election Day, as long as it's postmarked by then. Some also allow you to fax or email your ballot as late as Tuesday, but others have Monday deadlines ... they're included below for night owls with internet access, but time's all but run out.
If you haven't received your absentee ballot from your local election officials, you can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot to vote. Use the Defense Department's Federal Voting Assistant Program's automated assistant to find the specific ballot you need at www.fvap.gov. You can also check with your unit's voting assistance officer or the installation voting assistance office. Another source is the Overseas Vote Foundation, online at www.overseasvotefoundation.org.
Check out those sites for full state requirements. Haven't registered? Check anyway — some states allow same-day registration.
Got questions? The Federal Voting Assistance Program also has a call center to answer questions, and the hours are extended on Election Day from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Eastern. Call 800-438-8683 or email vote@fvap.gov.
Using information from the Defense Department's FVAP site and the Overseas Vote Foundation website, we'll compiled a list of states that will still give you a shot at voting, either by accepting your ballot if it is postmarked by Tuesday or by allowing you to fax or email the ballot:
Alabama – postmarked by Election Day; received by 12 p.m. on the seventh day after the election.
Alaska – postmarked by Election Day or returned by fax or online by 8 p.m. Alaska time Election Day. From within the U.S., ballot must be received by the 10th day after the election; from outside the U.S., by the 15th day after election.
Arkansas – postmarked by Tuesday, received by Nov. 18.
California – postmarked or faxed by Election Day, received by third day after election, excluding holidays.
Colorado – postmarked by 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Election Day, received by Nov. 16.
Florida – outside U.S., postmarked or faxed by Election Day, received by Nov. 18.
Georgia – postmarked by 5 p.m. Eastern on Election Day, received by Nov. 11.
Guam – postmarked by Election Day, received by Nov. 23.
Illinois – postmarked by 11:59 p.m. on Election Day, received by Nov. 22.
Indiana -- outside the U.S., postmarked, emailed or faxed by Election Day, received by Nov. 18.
Iowa – mail deadline Monday, but can be emailed or faxed by 9 p.m. Central time on Election Day.
Maryland – postmarked by 8 p.m. Eastern on Election Day, received by 10 a.m. Eastern on Nov. 18.
Massachusetts – postmarked by Election Day; email, online or fax by 8 p.m. Eastern on Election Day; received by Nov. 18.
Missouri – mail deadline Monday, but those in hostile fire areas have until 7 p.m. Central on Election Day to email or fax ballots.
Montana – emailed or faxed by 8 p.m. Mountain time on Election Day.
North Carolina – postmarked by 12 a.m. Election Day; emailed or faxed by 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Election Day; received by Nov. 17.
North Dakota – mail deadline Monday, but night owls have until midnight Monday to email or fax ballots.
Ohio – postmarked by 12:01 a.m. on Election Day, received by Nov. 18.
Puerto Rico – postmarked by Election Day.
South Carolina – postmarked, emailed or faxed by 7 p.m. Eastern on Election Day, received by Nov. 10
Texas – from overseas, ballots must be received by Nov. 14.
Utah – mail deadline Monday, but emails or faxes allowed until 8 p.m. Mountain time on Election Day.
Virgin Islands – received by Nov. 18.
Washington – postmarked, emailed or faxed by 8 p.m. Pacific time on Election Day; post received by Nov. 28.
West Virginia – received by Nov. 14.
Karen Jowers covers military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times. She can be reached at kjowers@militarytimes.com .
Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.
