Peace of Mind

In 48 of 50 states, plus Washington D.C., you are able to return your ballot in person (Tennessee and Mississippi are kind of wacky. Must be a repeating-consonants thing). This ensures that your elections office receives your ballot the day you submit, not a few or several days later (depending on how fast the Postal Service gets to it). Whether you're running up against the clock or you just want to be sure the job is done, returning your ballot in person is a great option for many American voters.

Note: Many states won't have their complete list of drop-off locations available until 2-4 weeks before the election. Continue to check back as more sites are listed.

Things to Consider

How many options do I have? Every town/parish/county will receive ballots at their local elections office (and you can visit your state's page to find out where that is). From there, additional options depend on your location. Does your area have secure drop boxes? Does your state allow you to return a completed ballot to an early voting site or polling place? Knowing how flexible your choices are will help you develop the best travel plan for yourself. Our state pages have all the information you should need.

Can someone drop it off for me? In many states, someone else can drop your ballot off for you. Different states have different laws about who this person can be--sometimes it can be anyone, sometimes it has to be a close family member, and sometimes it is only allowed to be dropped off by the voter themselves. When in doubt, always plan to return your ballot yourself, but check to see if you have flexibility in your state's laws to have someone else do it.

How will I get there? Once you know where, the main question is how. Are you able to drive yourself? Will you have to rely on public transportation? Could a family member or friend take an hour out of their day and give you a lift? Scheduling your trip in advance will help make it easier to follow through.

Resource

DropoffBallot is a grassroots project dedicated to mapping all physical drop-off locations in the United States. While it may not contain every location and you should double-check to verify its information, it is a good place to start.