What are absentee and mail-in ballot request deadlines and return requirements for December 2, 2025 special elections?
Executive summary
Absentee/mail-in request and return rules for December 2, 2025 special elections vary widely by state and by local jurisdiction: some jurisdictions require absentee requests to be received more than a week before the election (for example, Virginia’s last-day-to-request rule is 11 days before an election, with requests due by 5 p.m.) while other places set local municipal deadlines such as December 1, 2025 for mail‑in applications in specific town or county contests (Lexington, MA and some Georgia county notices) [1] [2] [3]. Statewide return rules differ on whether ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or merely received within days after the election — for example, Virginia permits postmark by Election Day and receipt up to three days after, while many counties require in‑person returns by the close of polls [1] [4] [5].
1. Deadlines aren’t uniform — check state or local notices
There is no single national deadline for absentee requests or returns for the December 2, 2025 special elections; rules are set state-by-state and sometimes by county or city. National guidance tells voters to consult their state for exact deadlines and whether the deadline is for postmark or receipt [6]. Aggregators (Ballotpedia, Vote.org) compile calendars and tables, but local election offices publish the operative deadlines for each contest [7] [8] [9].
2. Examples: Virginia, Massachusetts, Georgia show common patterns
Virginia: Vote411 and the Virginia Department of Elections state the last day to request an absentee ballot is by 5 p.m. 11 days before an election; Virginia allows ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within three days after the election to be counted, or returned in person by 7 p.m. on Election Day [1] [10]. Lexington, Massachusetts: the town’s December 8, 2025 special‑town‑election notice required mail‑in ballot applications to be returned by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2025, illustrating municipal-level application deadlines that precede statewide rules [2]. Fulton County, GA: notices for December 2, 2025 processing and absentee handling show county offices set specific processing schedules and early‑processing notices tied to that date (absentee processing begins Dec. 1), underscoring local operational rules that affect timing [3].
3. Return rules vary: postmark vs. receipt vs. in‑person drop
States differ on whether a ballot must be postmarked by Election Day, physically received by a certain deadline, or returned in person by poll closing. Virginia allows postmark by Election Day and receipt within three days and permits in‑person return by 7 p.m. [1]. California and many California counties require ballots personally delivered to be received by the close of polls (8:00 p.m.) [4]. New Jersey will canvass ballots that lack a postmark if delivered by USPS within 48 hours after polls close; it also sets in‑person return cutoffs that vary [5]. Local county sites (e.g., Santa Clara, Travis County) list their own receive-or-postmark standards and cure procedures [11] [12].
4. Cure windows and signature issues matter locally
Several states permit a cure process if a signature is missing or mismatched, but the time windows differ. Florida allows a “Vote‑by‑Mail Ballot Cure” with identification to be submitted by 5 p.m. two days after the election [13]. Virginia also specifies a cure timeline tied to receipt and canvass procedures [1]. Voters with signature concerns must check their county or state portal for the exact cure form and deadline [13] [1].
5. Practical advice: act early and verify with your county
Because local deadlines can be earlier than state rules (towns, counties, and special contests often publish unique timetables), voters should request ballots well before the statutory last day. The USPS recommends returning ballots at least one week before a state deadline to avoid mail delays [14]. Use your state or county election office website as the authoritative source rather than general guides; Ballotpedia and Vote.org provide helpful summaries but note that local offices publish the operative deadlines and processing notices for specific December 2 contests [7] [8] [3].
6. Where sources disagree or omit details
Aggregated trackers list statutory statewide deadlines but may not cover every special municipal or runoff contest; for example, Ballotpedia provides statewide tables for 2025 but does not replace local notices for special elections [8] [9]. Local pages (Lexington MA, Fulton County) supply contest‑specific deadlines not always reflected in national tables [2] [3]. Available sources do not mention a single consolidated national deadline for all December 2, 2025 special elections; instead, sources point voters to state and county offices for the final word [6] [7].
Bottom line: there is no one‑size‑fits‑all answer. Consult your state election site and your county or town election office now — many local jurisdictions set December 1 or earlier application/processing dates and have specific return/cure rules that will determine whether a December 2, 2025 absentee or mail ballot is counted [10] [2] [3].