How to vote in 5 states with Oct. 26-29 deadlines

There are a variety of ways to vote. Below are all the details you’ll need to do so in five states with deadlines coming up Monday, Oct. 26, through Thursday, Oct. 29.

Remember, the deadlines for turning in mail ballots don’t preclude you from turning in your ballot as soon as you receive it. And with the problems with U.S. mail, and the huge number of mail ballots expected this year, the earlier you turn it in, the better. (Legal references were provided by the Voting Rights Lab.)

Oct. 26 states

COLORADO

"Voters can mail their ballots, put them in a drop box, bring them to a voter service and polling center, or return them to the office of the county clerk and recorder or the office of the designated election official.” - Colo. Rev. Stat. §1-7.5-107(4)(b)(I)(A)

• Deadline to register to vote is Oct. 26 online. Register here: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/olvr/verifyNewVoter.xhtml You can also register at a voter center up through election day on Nov. 3.

• Colorado is mailing a ballot to all registered voters. Ballots must be received by Nov. 3.

• Contact local officials for drop box locations: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Resources/CountyElectionOffices.html

• Early voting at vote centers is Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-31 and Nov. 2 in all counties, with expanded dates in some other counties. Check your county for details on dates and locations. County clerks locations are here: https://www.clerkandrecorder.org/allcounties

• ID requirements for in person voting are here: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/acceptableFormsOfID.html

• Who can handle a mail ballot? “Any person of the elector's own choice or any duly authorized agent of the county clerk and recorder or designated election official may be designated to mail or deliver a mail ballot … No person other than a duly authorized agent of the county clerk and recorder or designated election official may receive more than 10 mail ballots in any election for mailing or delivery.” - NCSL

• Track your mail ballot here: https://colorado.ballottrax.net/voter/

MONTANA

"Voters or their authorized designees may return ballots by mail or by in-person delivery to the election office, a polling place in the voter's county, or in the case of emergency absentee voting, to the absentee election board or authorized election official.” - Mont. Code § 13-13-201(2)(e)

• Deadline to register to vote is Oct. 24 online. Register here: https://sosmt.gov/Portals/142/Elections/Forms/Voter_Registration_Application.pdf. You can register in person up through Election Day, Nov. 3, at one of these locations: https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020-Late-Registration-Locations.pdf

• Most Montana counties are sending mail/absentee ballots to all voters, but a few have decided not to, including Flathead County. You can request a mail/absentee ballot here by Nov. 2: https://sosmt.gov/Portals/142/Elections/Forms/Application-for-Absentee-Ballot.pdf. Ballots must be received by Nov. 3.

• Drop box locations can be found here: https://sosmt.gov/#r5You can vote early at county clerk offices 30 days before the election and until noon the day before the election. County clerk locations are here: http://www.county-clerk.net/county.asp?state=Montana

• ID requirements for in person voting are here: https://sosmt.gov/elections/faq/#identificationWho can handle a mail ballot? “Individuals authorized to transmit ballots are an election official; U.S. postal service worker or other individual specifically authorized by law to transmit U.S. mail; caregiver; family member; household member; or acquaintance … A person other than an authorized individual may not knowingly collect a voter's voted or unvoted ballot. An individual authorized to collect a voter's ballot may not collect and convey more than six ballots.” - NCSL

• Track your mail ballot here: https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/

WASHINGTON STATE

"Ballots may be returned by mail, by dropping them off at drop boxes (whether at vote centers, registration sites that are less than vote centers, or standalone drop boxes), or by delivering them to the county auditor's office.” - Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.40.160(4); Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.40.091(4)

• Deadline to register to vote is Oct. 26 online or by mail or Nov. 3 in person. Register here: https://voter.votewa.gov/WhereToVote.aspx

• Washington state automatically mails ballots to all voters. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3.

• Contact local officials for drop box locations: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/auditors/

• Early voting centers are available Oct. 16, Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-30 and Nov. 2 in most counties. Check with county auditor offices for details here: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/auditors/

• ID requirements for in person voting are here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=29A.40.160

• Who can handle a mail ballot? “Not specified.” - NCSL

• Track your mail ballot here: https://voter.votewa.gov/WhereToVote.aspx

Oct. 27 state

CONNECTICUT

"A ballot may be mailed by the voter, a designee of an ill or physically disabled voter, or an immediate family member of an applicant who is a student. It also may be returned in person by the voter or the voter's immediate family member at the clerk's office. Finally, the designee of an ill or physically disabled voter may return a ballot in person to the clerk on the voter's behalf.” - Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-140b(a)

• Deadline to register to vote is Oct. 27 online. Register here: https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do. You can also register in person up through Election Day on Nov. 3.

• You can request a mail/absentee ballot by November 2 here. Visit your county clerk to do so in person, or mail them a letter. Ballots must be received by Nov. 3.

• Contact local officials for drop box locations: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Town-Clerk/Town-Clerks-List.pdf

• No early voting, but you may still turn in your absentee/mail-in ballot at a clerk’s office ahead of election day. Town clerk locations are here: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Town-Clerk/Town-Clerks-List.pdf

• ID requirements for in person voting are here: https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/FAQ/FAQ---Voter-Identification

• Who can handle a mail ballot? “An absentee ballot may be returned by a voter’s “designee,” which includes a person who is caring for the applicant because of the applicant's illness or physical disability, including but not limited to, a licensed physician or a registered or practical nurse; a member of the applicant's family; or if no such person consents or is available, then a police officer, registrar of voters, deputy registrar of voters or assistant registrar of voters in the municipality in which the applicant resides.” - NCSL

• Connecticut is one of a handful of states that does not have ballot tracking measures.

Oct. 29 state

NEVADA

"A voter may return ballots by mail or the ballot can be delivered to the county clerk.” - Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.317

• Deadline to register to vote is Oct. 6 in person or by mail and Oct. 29 online. Register here: https://www.nvsos.gov/sosvoterservices/Registration/Step0.aspx. You can also register in person through Election Day on Nov. 3.

• Nevada is mailing ballots to all active voters. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3.

• Drop box locations can be found here: https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/election-day-information

• Early voting is Oct. 17, October 19-24 and October 26-30. Some counties may also offer expanded early voting on Oct. 18 and Oct. 25. The state website says locations in addition to county clerk offices will be listed here: https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/early-voting-information. County clerk office locations are here: https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/county-clerk-contact-information

• Who can handle a mail ballot? “On August 3, Governor Steve Sisolak signed A.B. 4, which allows voters to designate anyone of their choosing to return their ballot. Under pre-existing law, only a family member of the voter could return a ballot on their behalf.” - the Voting Rights Lab

• Track your mail ballot here: https://nevada.ballottrax.net/voter/