# Can you vote absentee in a primary? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 3, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025 "2016-02-03T03:42:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/1 "2016-02-03T03:42:44Z")
Google search indicates that one cannot vote absentee in a caucus, but search results on voting absentee in primaries was inconsistent. What is the straight dope? Mods, if this belongs in elections, please feel free to move. (Apologies if this has already been asked on this forum, but the search feature sucks and I will go mad if I ever again read “This forum requires that you wait 120 seconds between searches. Please try again in 110 seconds…101 seconds…99 seconds…66 seconds…”) ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/2 "2016-02-03T04:01:22Z")
I don’t know the law in every state, so there may be some state where it is not possible, but you can in most states. For example, if you want to apply to vote by mail in the June 7 primary in California, you can do so [here](http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail/). Note that the chart at the bottom of the page explicitly lists the primary and lists a deadline of May 31 to apply for a ballot. Check with your own state’s election commission if you seriously want to do this. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/3 "2016-02-03T04:09:27Z")
You can in Arizona. I vote by mail in every election, both in primaries and general elections. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/4 "2016-02-03T04:28:12Z")
I don’t know why you wouldn’t be able to. An erection is an erection. ---
**Author:** ![Samantha\_Leigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Samantha\_Leigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Samantha_Leigh)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/5 "2016-02-03T04:38:24Z")
I just realized I will be out of town during the primaries in Texas. I will be looking into this issue within the next few days. I hope we can! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/6 "2016-02-03T04:55:54Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I don’t know why you wouldn’t be able to. An erection is an erection. If you have an absentee erection you should contact a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/7 "2016-02-03T05:01:38Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > If you have an absentee erection you should contact a doctor. :o Oh good grief. These days I can’t tell the Freudian slips from the autocorrects. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/8 "2016-02-03T05:26:07Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > If you have an absentee erection you should contact a doctor. Only if it lasts over 4 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/9 "2016-02-03T05:45:20Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > Only if it lasts over 4 hours. That’s when you have an absentee caucus. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/10 "2016-02-03T13:17:03Z")
Rules vary by state. But my age qualifies me for mail-in ballots. Primaries, runoffs, city, state, national… (And I don’t need to provide a photo ID, as “live” Texas voters must.) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/11 "2016-02-03T13:28:08Z")
In Ohio anybody can vote absentee (or early and in person at the Board of Elections), including in primaries. That means people start voting in our March 15th primary in two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/12 "2016-02-03T14:26:25Z")
I’ve done it from Illinois. I will this year. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/13 "2016-02-03T14:27:04Z")
> [@Samantha\_Leigh](#): > > I just realized I will be out of town during the primaries in Texas. I will be looking into this issue within the next few days. I hope we can! Early voting in Texas: [http://www.votetexas.gov/voting/when/#early-voting](http://www.votetexas.gov/voting/when/#early-voting) > [@](#): > > March 1, 2016 Primary Election: January 1, 2016 – February 19, 2016 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/14 "2016-02-03T16:35:39Z")
I just requested my ballot for the Illinois primary. Anyone can. [http://m.chicagoelections.com/en/vote-by-mail.html](http://m.chicagoelections.com/en/vote-by-mail.html) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/15 "2016-02-03T16:37:37Z")
In Washington you have to. At least in my county. All voting by mail. (BTW, it’s wonderful) ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/16 "2016-02-03T17:38:30Z")
I’m a permanent absentee voter in California, and I always receive an absentee ballot for the primaries. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/17 "2016-02-03T22:51:10Z")
Missouri’s primary is next month. The absentee ballot period just started. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/18 "2016-02-03T23:08:33Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > In Washington you have to. At least in my county. All voting by mail. (BTW, it’s wonderful) It is. I know to vote when I get my ballot in the mail. So much better than driving to the polls. ---
**Author:** ![Cardboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Cardboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardboard)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/19 "2016-02-04T00:55:26Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > (Apologies if this has already been asked on this forum, but the search feature sucks and I will go mad if I ever again read “This forum requires that you wait 120 seconds between searches. Please try again in 110 seconds…101 seconds…99 seconds…66 seconds…”) Use Google to search the site instead. site:straightdope.com ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025/20 "2016-02-04T01:41:11Z")
Depends on the state. I have a Virginia primary absentee ballot sitting on my desk right now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-vote-absentee-in-a-primary/745025.md?page=2)