Voting in the 2024 Presidential General Election: What You Need to Know

Yes! You can absolutely vote from home by mail-in or absentee ballot. You will need to go online to request a ballot (details below).

• An absentee ballot is generally used in every state to refer to a ballot filled out by a voter who cannot, for many reasons, go to a voting location on Election Day. Absentee ballots must be requested by the voter to be mailed out.
• A mail-in ballot is used more broadly to refer to ballots sent through the mail. Mail-in ballots typically refer to states where the ballots are sent to all registered voters whether they requested one or not.

Yes! You can vote early by mailing in or dropping your ballot off at a Drop Box location.

If you are a first-time voter who is voting by mail using a mail-in ballot or absentee ballot, you MUST include proof of residency documentation with your ballot.

• Maryland: Early voting will be held from Thursday, October 24, 2024 through Thursday, October 31, 2024. Early voting centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• District of Columbia: Early voting will be held from October 28, 2024 through November 3, 2024.
• Virginia: Early voting begins September 20, 2024 through November 3, 2024.

• Current and valid DMV-issued ID
• Government check or paycheck*
• Bank statement*
• Current utility bill*
• Student housing statement/tuition bill
• Homeless shelter occupancy statement
• Current lease
• Other government-issued document showing your name and address

 * The issue, bill or statement date must be within 90 days of Election Day

If you live in the District of Columbia, YOU DO NOT have to request an absentee ballot. All registered voters will receive a mail-in ballot at their registered address beginning the first week in October.

If you live in Virginia or Maryland, you can apply online to request an absentee/mail-in ballot to mail in or drop off in a ballot box.  

You can download a sample ballot from your state’s election site to find out the candidates who are running for office. See below resources.

Follow @VOTE411 on Instagram to learn more about candidates and your specific voting information (for example polling place, sample ballot and more).

In-State Students: Will you be living at home or on campus? Remember, when you register to vote, use the address you consider your home address; this is called your registered address. This will determine your district and who you are eligible to vote for.

Out-of-State Students: Are you leaving your home state to attend school? You will need to decide if you will remain a resident of your home state or become a resident of the new state. Remember that you may only be registered to vote in ONE (1) state and need proof of residency in that state. 

District of Columbia:

• By Mail: October 15
• In-person: November 5
• Online: October 15

Maryland:

• By Mail: October 15
• In-person: Postmarked by November 5
• Online: October 15

Virginia:

• By Mail: October 15
• In-person: November 5
• Online: October 15

IT’S EASY! Visit Rock the Vote to sign up for reminders of upcoming election dates and deadlines in your area, so that you never miss an election.