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Can I vote by mail in North Dakota?
Yes. Anyone can request a mail ballot.
Any registered voter can request a mail (absentee) ballot, no reason needed. There's a deadline, so request early.
- Voter registration
no deadline. No registration. Bring valid ID.
- NextAsk for your mail ballot. Your request must arrive byTue, Oct 271 day
Application deadline is the day before Election Day, which leaves no time for the mail.
- Mail it byTue, Oct 271 day
USPS says allow 7 days. Your ballot must be received by Tue, Nov 3. After this date, use a drop box or return it in person.
- Returning it:
Must be RETURNED by close of polls on Election Day. North Dakota removed its postmark rule for 2026 (HB 1165), so a ballot postmarked in time but arriving later is not counted. Use a drop-off or the county auditor if it is close.
Dropping it off? Drop-off is run by your county or town rather than the state, so locations vary. county auditor.
Who can return it for you: The official source doesn't say whether someone else may carry it. Ask your county election office. The SOS says return by mail, county drop box, or in person to the county auditor (not a polling place), and that only you sign the envelope; it doesn't say whether someone else may carry it. The law regulates agents only for picking up ballots (up to 4 voters). source
- Mail request must be receivedMon, Nov 27 days
Ask now: a request on the last day leaves no time to mail the ballot back.
Missed the request deadline?
- Voters kept from voting in person on Election Day by an emergency. Deadline: Tue, Nov 3, 4 p.m. (voted ballot back at the county auditor). Apply through an agent with your written authorization; the agent picks up and returns the ballot to the county auditor (one voter per agent). source
- Election DayTue, Nov 38 days
If your ballot gets flaggedDeadline: Mon, Nov 16 · 21 days
If your ballot was flagged
- Read the letter, email or text from your county. It says what's wrong.
- Confirm your signature in person at the county auditor's office with ID, or by letter or email with a copy of your ID, before the county canvassing board meets on Nov. 16. Deadline: Mon, Nov 16 · 21 days
- Call your county election office. You can say:
Hi, I voted by mail and my ballot was flagged. What do I need to do to fix it, and by when? Can I do it today?
Trouble voting? Free, nonpartisan hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE · 888-VE-Y-VOTA · 888-API-VOTE · 844-YALLA-US
Good to know in North Dakota New for 2026: your ballot must ARRIVE by the close of polls on Election Day. North Dakota eliminated its postmark rule (HB 1165), so mailing it on time is no longer enough. No voter registration in North Dakota; bring valid ID. Absentee voting begins Sept. 24.
Where are you with your ballot?
Where are you with your ballot?
Will your ballot count in North Dakota?
Will your ballot count in North Dakota?
- Is this your first time voting by mail?
- Have you moved since you last voted?
- Has your signature changed much since you registered?
Why ballots get rejected in North Dakota, and how to avoid it
- Sign the envelope the way you signed your voter registration or driver's license. Your state compares them.
- Use the secrecy sleeve if one is included, then the return envelope. Don't tape anything.
- Keep the phone and email on your registration current. If there's a problem, that's how they reach you to fix it.
Voting in person insteadpolling place, early voting, ID
Polling place and sample ballot: Your state's voter portal shows where you vote in person, what's on your ballot, and your registration status, all from your address. Open the voter portal
Open now through Mon, Nov 2. Locations and hours
You must show ID, but it doesn't have to have a photo. Without one you can cast a provisional ballot that counts only if you follow up.
Accepted: ND driver's license, ND non-driver ID, tribal government-issued ID (or tribal documentation), or Long Term Care Certificate; an ND ID with outdated address can be supplemented with a current bank statement/utility bill, paycheck, government document, or college document plus student ID. Without one: Vote a set-aside ballot; the voter must present or update a valid form of ID with the election official (in person or electronically) within 13 days after the election, before the county canvassing board meets, or the ballot is not counted.
More about your statepermanent list, counting, alerts
North Dakota cannot start counting mail ballots until Election Day itself, so results take longer than you might expect. Results are certified Mon, Nov 23.
Watching the numbers? Your state publishes a running count of mail ballots requested and returned: North Dakota's absentee/vote-by-mail numbers
- Military or overseas. You're covered by federal law (UOCAVA), which usually gives you longer deadlines and electronic delivery. Use the Federal Post Card Application to register and request a ballot in one step. If your ballot doesn't arrive, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is your backup. FVAP.gov
- College student. You can register at your school address or your family's, not both. If you're registered back home and away at school, request a mail ballot from home early; campus mail is slow. Some states require a specific reason for students to vote absentee, so check your state's rule above. Student voter guide
- Disability or need help marking a ballot. Every state must offer an accessible way to vote. Most have an accessible mail-ballot option you can mark on a screen reader or your own device, and all allow a person of your choice (not your employer or union rep) to assist. Ask your county election office for the accessible absentee ballot. If illness, a hospital stay or a disability keeps you from the polls AFTER the request deadline, most states still have a way to get you a ballot: see "Missed the request deadline?" under your state's dates, and "Who can return it for you" for whether a family member or helper may carry it back. EAC: voters with disabilities
- Moved recently. Your registration is tied to your address. If you moved within your state, update it before the registration deadline; if you've moved across state lines, register in the new state. Moved after the deadline? Many states let you vote at your old precinct one last time or update in person; call your county. vote.gov
- Past felony conviction. Rules vary widely: some states restore rights automatically on release, others after probation or parole, a few require a separate process. Don't assume you can't vote. Check your state before the registration deadline. NCSL: restoration of voting rights
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Verified against the official page 2026-09-10. Rule checked 2026-09-09. Deadlines checked 2026-09-09. Request deadlines are "received by," not postmarked. The official site wins if anything differs. Spot something wrong? We check every report against the state's own page and fix errors as soon as they're reported. Email fix@ballotbymail.org or use the report form.