How Do I Vote by Mail and How Do I Track My Mail-In Ballot?

Requesting and tracking a mail-in ballot can be made simple using online voter tools.

A poll worker stamps a voter's ballot before dropping it into a secure box at a ballot drop off location in Austin, Texas on Oct. 13, 2020. Sergio Flores/Getty Images

Election day is fast approaching, but some people won’t be able to make it to the polls on Nov. 5. If you haven’t yet taken the time to train a carrier pigeon to deliver your ballot to the nearest polling place, mail-in voting may provide an alternative solution.

But how exactly do you do that? All states have some form of vote-by-mail system. Read on to get organized ahead of election day.

Do I Need to Request a Ballot?

Eight states and the District of Columbia have “all mail-in-voting,” which means a ballot will be mailed to you automatically; everywhere else you need to request one. This gives you the option to vote by mail, or to fill out your ballot and drop it off at a polling place or ballot box.