When states process mail

ballots

Key battleground states in bold

On election day

One day before election

Iowa

Louisiana

Michigan

North Dakota

South Carolina

Utah

Vermont

Two to five days before election

Connecticut

Delaware

Maine

Missouri

Montana

New Hampshire

Oklahoma

Wyoming

Six or more days before election

Arizona

Arkansas

Alaska

California

Florida

Kentucky

Minnesota

Nebraska

New Mexico

North Carolina

Oregon

Rhode Island

West Virginia

Before the election

Some states don’t specify an exact start date or they process ballots upon receipt.

Colorado

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Maryland

Massachusetts

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Washington

Guardian graphic. Source: State websites, National Conference of State Legislatures, NBC News, Connecticut Examiner, Saint Cloud Times, WUSA9, Washington Post

When states process mail ballots

Key battleground states in bold

Before the election

On election day

Some states don’t specify an exact start date or they process ballots upon receipt.

Colorado

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Maryland

Massachusetts

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Washington

One day before election

Iowa

Louisiana

Michigan

North Dakota

South Carolina

Utah

Vermont

Two to five days before election

Connecticut

Delaware

Maine

Missouri

Montana

New Hampshire

Oklahoma

Wyoming

Six or more days before election

Arizona

Arkansas

Alaska

California

Florida

Kentucky

Minnesota

Nebraska

New Mexico

North Carolina

Oregon

Rhode Island

West Virginia

Guardian graphic. Source: State websites, National Conference of State Legislatures, NBC News, Connecticut Examiner, Saint Cloud Times, WUSA9, Washington Post