Vote in a Primary Election this spring or summer – check out our Education Guide to learn more!
Be a leader for democracy this fall – become an NU Votes Ambassador!
Stay tuned for an Education Guide & Voter Services for the Midterm Election this fall!

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NUVotes

Northwestern's comprehensive 50-state voter-services hub

In partnership with:

Absentee Ballot Requests

Given that online registration is fairly new and only available in some states, online absentee request systems are not in place in almost ANY state. In most cases, you will need to print, sign and mail your form at the completion of this process. We recommend that you visit the Center for Civic Engagement or one of our in-person registration events for assistance. However, you can use the online tool below to get started and NU Votes will help you complete the process (the tool will also provide you with instructions on how to complete the process yourself if you prefer).

Note: National online tools like these are not always updated for local municipal, primary, or special elections. If you are requesting an absentee ballot for one of these elections, contact your local election officials to verify election dates and deadlines and ensure you are using the most current versions of forms before you complete the process.

Important Notes

You can use this tool to request an absentee ballot. However, in most cases, you will not be able to submit this form online. The tool will most often generate a form that you will need to print and mail. And you may need to take other additional steps as well depending on your state. NU Votes can help you with those additional steps:

Possible Additional Requirements:

Printing and Mailing
This tool will most often provide you with a printable pdf. If you would like us to print and mail it for you, you can simply email the form to us at NUVotes@northwestern.edu. We will print it for you, remind you to drop by our office or an NU Votes voter registration station to sign it, and we will mail it for you.

Just mailing
If you prefer, you can print and sign the form yourself, and simply drop it at our office or at an NU Votes voter registration station and we will mail it for you.

Copies of your ID
In most cases, you will be asked to include a copy of your ID with your absentee request. We can also copy your ID for you if you drop by our office or an NU Votes voter registration station.

Other Possible Requirements & Questions
If you need any additional support (access to a notary, additional proof of residence, etc.), or have questions about the process, we can help you at In-Person Registration.

NU Votes is a non-partisan voter engagement initiative administered by Northwestern University’s Center for Civic Engagement. Northwestern does not endorse or oppose any candidate or organization in connection with any political campaign or election.

Please Note: NU Votes is simply an effort to help students register and vote themselves. Students are responsible for working with their own local election officials to verify local laws and policies about voting in their respective districts, and to ensure that their registration and/or voting materials have been properly processed. If you do not receive accurate registration and/or voting materials from your local election officials in a timely manner, please contact them directly to follow up.