What You Need to Know About Absentee Ballot Notary and Witness Signature Requirements

Each state has different rules regarding absentee voting. Some states impose additional requirements, like witness and/or notary signatures. We've got answers for you here.
Absentee voting, either by mail or by placing a ballot in a drop box, is more popular than ever. In 2020, 65 million voters successfully cast absentee ballots – that’s more than the number of in-person voters! Absentee voting makes life easier. And it’s a secure way to vote.
- Most Americans, we’re happy to report, like voting absentee: according to the Pew Research Center, 65% of voters favor access to no-excuse absentee voting, meaning you could cast a ballot from home even if nothing was physically preventing you from getting to the polling place.
- At U.S. Vote Foundation we learned through our 2020 post-election survey, that the vast majority of voters – domestic (95%), overseas (85%), and military (90%) – were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their absentee voting experience.