Election season is in full swing, with absentee voting beginning in seven more states. This includes states like Delaware, Indiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Vermont. While these states may not be competitive at the presidential level, there are a couple of competitive House races to keep an eye on. In Indiana’s 1st Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan faces a challenge from Republican local councilman Randy Niemeyer. Meanwhile, in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is up against teacher and Democrat Sue Altman in a closely watched race.
Delaware residents can vote via mail, with absentee ballots available to all voters in the state. The ballots must be received by the Department of Elections Office of the voter’s county by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Early in-person voting is also an option, with designated sites in each county from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3. Voter registration can be done through writing, in-person, or online, with the deadline falling on the 4th Saturday before the election.
In Indiana, absentee ballots are being sent out to voters who have applied. The application must be received 12 days before Election Day, with valid reasons including disability, work obligations, and more. In-person absentee voting is available for 28 days before the election, as well as on the two Saturdays immediately preceding Election Day. Voter registration forms must be completed and returned to county registration offices by Oct. 7.
New Jersey has recently started mail-in voting, allowing voters to cast their ballots by mail if postmarked on or before Election Day. Early in-person voting will be available from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3. The voter registration deadline in New Jersey is Oct. 15. In Oklahoma, registered voters can request an absentee ballot until Oct. 21, with early voting running from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 11, and registration can be done online, by mail, or in-person.
Rhode Island voters who prefer not to cast their ballot at the polls on Election Day can vote by mail. Early in-person voting is also an option in Rhode Island, with voters able to cast their ballots during the 20 days leading up to Election Day. The voter registration deadline in Rhode Island is 30 days before the election. In Tennessee, absentee ballots will be mailed out starting Sept. 21, with early in-person voting available from Oct. 16 to Oct 31. The voter registration deadline in Tennessee is Oct. 7.
Vermont begins mailing absentee ballots to military and overseas voters on Sept. 21, before sending them to all active voters on Sept. 23. Early voters can apply for an early voter absentee ballot through various methods, and must submit them by 5 p.m. on Nov. 4. Voter registration in Vermont can be done online, via paper application, or at the local clerk’s office. As the election season continues to ramp up, getting informed about the voting processes and deadlines in each state ensures that everyone’s voice is heard in the upcoming elections.
