Election Day Should Mean Election Day

Election Day should mean Election Day.

All states should have the same rule. No ballots counted if Election Day is over.

People have plenty of time and know when it is.

The following states and Washington, D.C. allow certain regular mail ballots to be received after Election Day and still be counted if they meet state requirements:

• Alaska
• California
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Oregon
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Washington, D.C.

The following states generally require regular mail ballots to be received by Election Day:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Many states also provide separate exceptions for military and overseas voters under federal law.

My position is simple: if a ballot is not received by election officials by Election Night—or at most within 24 hours—it should not be counted. Americans have several weeks to vote early, request absentee ballots, or vote by mail.

Deadlines only work when they are enforced.

Election Day should not mean ballots arriving 6,7,8 days later be allowed. Election Day should not mean waiting a week or 2 for results.

Election Day should not mean wondering whether additional ballots are still on the way.

Election Day should mean voting is complete, ballots have been received, and the counting process can begin with confidence and transparency.

A fair election requires clear rules. A trusted election requires firm deadlines. Election Day should mean Election Day.