How does an absentee ballot work?

How does an absentee ballot work?

Thea Brodkin (Voter Service Chair) gives expert video advice on: How do I know when and where to vote?; How do I know what election literature is legit?; How do I know what I can vote for in an election? and more...

More and more people are voting absentee. What that means is you apply. You fill out a postcard or you write a letter or you call, and you tell the election official in your area that you want to vote by mail. Different states have different rules, but in California you don't have to have an excuse. A lot of people like it because they can vote at home with all their information in front of them. It's like a take home exam and then you just stick it in the mail, as long as it's a signed envelope. It has to arrive at the election office by 8 o'clock the night of the election. Then it will count. There are people that vote absentee early, like a month before the election and then, oh, I've changed my mind. Then it's too late. You can't vote twice. So when you vote absentee, just think that's my final vote.