As COVID-19 spreads throughout the country, large gatherings and group activities have increasingly been altered, postponed or cancelled altogether. The voting process is no different. After several states delayed primaries, there has been continued preparation for the possibility that the 2020 presidential election season will look vastly different than normal. The Dentons team, along with our Dentons 50 partners, will continue to track elections developments throughout the year. As a primer, below is state by state overview of the next planned election, mail-in voting status and COVID-19 specific updates. Please contact us with any questions.
| STATE | UPCOMING ELECTIONS AS = As Scheduled PP = Previously Postponed | MAIL VOTING STATUS Specific Exception = 1 Time Change No Special Exceptions Yet = Absentee Requirements not Relaxed |
COVID-19 UPDATES
Link to
Release/Order Dictating Election Changes |
| Alabama | July 14, 2020 (PP: Primary Runoff) | Absentee/Mail Voting Permitted (Specific Exception) | SOS Merrill Press Release |
| Alaska | August 18, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | DOE Press Release |
| Arizona | August 4, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Hobbs Press Release |
| Arkansas | March 31, 2020 (AS: Primary Runoff) | Limited (2x year) Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOS Thurston Press Release |
| California | May 12, 2020 (AS: CD 25 Special General; State SD 28 Special General) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Padilla Press Release |
| Colorado | June 30, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | All Mail Voting | SOS Griswald Info Center |
| Connecticut | June 2, 2020 (PP: Pres. Pref. Primary) August 11, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOS Merrill Press Release |
| Delaware | June 2, 2020 (PP: Pres. Pref. Primary) September 15, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | Absentee/Mail Voting Permitted (Specific Exception) | SEC Albence Press Release |
| Florida | August 18, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Lee Press Releases |
| Georgia | May 19, 2020 (PP: Pres. Pref. Primary; AS: Primary Election) July 21, 2020 (AS: Primary RunoffElection) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Raffensperger Press Release |
| Hawaii | August 8, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | All Mail Voting | SOE News Releases |
| Idaho |
May 19, 2020 (AS:
Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Denny Press Release |
| Illinois | November General Election | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SBE Press Release |
| Indiana | June 2, 2020 (PP: Primary Election) | Absentee/Mail Voting Permitted (Specific Exception) | SOS Lawson Press Release |
| Iowa | June 2, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Pate Press Release |
| Kansas | August 4, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Schwab Press Release |
| Kentucky | June 23, 2020 (PP: Primary Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOS Adams Press Release |
| Louisiana | June 20, 2020 (PP: Pres. Pref. Primary) July 25, 2020 (PP: Municipal Primary Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOS Ardoin Press Release |
| Maine | June 9, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Dunlap News Center |
| Maryland | April 28, 2020 (AS: CD7 Special General) June 2, 2020 (PP: Pres. Pref.; AS: Primary Election) | 4/28: All Mail Voting (Specific Exception) 6/2: No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | BOE Chair Cogan Statement |
| Massachusetts | May 19, 2020 (PP: Senate Specials) June 2, 2020 (PP: House Specials) September 1, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | 5/19 & 6/30: Absentee/Mail Voting Permitted (Specific Exception) 9/1: Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOC Galvin Press Release |
| Michigan | May 5, 2020 (AS: Municipal Election) August 4, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting (All Mail Pending) | SOS Benson Press Release |
| Minnesota | August 11, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting (Changes Pending) | SOS Simon Press Release |
| Mississippi | April 21, 2020 (AS: State HD 88 Special Election) June 23, 2020 (PP: Primary Runoff Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOS Watson Press Release |
| Missouri | June 2, 2020 (PP: Municipal Election) August 4, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOS Ashcroft Press Release |
| Montana | June 2, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Stapleton Update Election Calendar |
| Nebraska |
May 12, 2020 (AS:
Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Evnan Press Release |
| Nevada | June 9, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | All Mail Voting (Specific Exception) | SOS Cegavske Press Release |
| New Hampshire | September 8, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOS Gardner Press Releases |
| New Jersey | May 12, 2020 (PP: Municipal & Special Elections) June 2, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | 5/12: All Mail Voting (Specific Exception) 6/2: No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | Gov. Murphy Press Release |
| New Mexico | June 2, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Oliver Press Release |
| New York | June 23, 2020 (PP: Pres. Pref. Primary; AS: Primary Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | BOE Website |
| North Carolina | June 23, 2020 (PP: CD11 Primary) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | BOE ED Bell Recommendations |
| North Dakota | June 9, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Jaegar Vote Portal |
| Ohio | April 27, 2020 (PP: Pres. Pref. & Primary Election) | All Mail Voting (Specific Exception) | SOS Larose Press Release |
| Oklahoma | April 7, 2020 (PP: Local Elections) June 30, 2020: (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | EBS Ziriax Press Release |
| Oregon |
May 19, 2020 (AS:
Primary Election) | All Mail Voting | SOS Clarno Press Release |
| Pennsylvania | April 28, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Boockvar Press Release |
| Rhode Island | June 2, 2020 (PP: Pres. Pref. Primary) September 8, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Gorbea Press Release |
| South Carolina | ? May 1, 2020 (PP: Municipal Elections) June 9, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SEC Press Releases |
| South Dakota | June 2, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Barnett Press Release |
| Tennessee | August 6, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | SOS Hargett News |
| Texas | July 14, 2020 (PP: Primary Runoff) |
Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | Gov. Abbot Declaration |
| Utah | June 30, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | All Mail Voting (In Person Optional) | Gov. Herbert Press Release |
| Vermont | August 11, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Condos Press Release |
| Virginia | May 5, 2020 (AS: Municipal Elections) June 9, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | 5/5: Absentee/Mail Voting Permitted (Specific Exception) 9/1: Prerequisite Absentee (No Special Exceptions Yet) | DOE Release |
| Washington | August 4, 2020 (Primary Election) | All Mail Voting | SOS Wyman Press Release |
| West Virginia |
April 28, 2020 (AS:
Special Election) – Change Pending May 12, 2020 (AS: Primary Election) | Absentee/Mail Voting Permitted (Specific Exception) | SOS Warner Press Release |
| Wisconsin | April 7, 2020 (AS: Spring Election) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | ECA Wolfe Press Release |
| Wyoming | May 5, 2020 (AS: Municipal Elections) August 18, 2020 (AS: PrimaryElection) | No Excuse Absentee/Mail Voting | SOS Buchanan Media Releases |
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