If you're still trying to decide between absentee and in-person voting...

[ecstatic]

Visit the links below to see how and when your state processes and tabulates absentee voting, keeping in mind that some states may have updated their rules since the page was last updated.

In Georgia, absentee vote tallying can't begin until after polls close on Election Day. Ballots may be "processed" 2 weeks before the election, but the actual counting of the ballots cannot begin until the polls close on Election Day.

I was concerned when I learned this, but the AJC explains the process this way: The rule authorizes county election workers to open and scan absentee ballots in advance, but those votes can’t be counted until polls close. Until then, votes are stored in the memory of optical scanning computers, the same as votes cast in person during early voting.

Based on that info, I'm assuming that any delays in counting the ballots would be due to discrepancies between the number of ballots stored in the machine's memory vs the number of votes received, or from ballots that the machines flag as requiring manual review.

When Absentee/Mail Ballot Processing and Counting Can Begin 7/9/20
https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-16-when-absentee-mail-ballot-processing-and-counting-can-begin.aspx

States That Permit Voters to Correct Signature Discrepancies 8/7/20
https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-15-states-that-permit-voters-to-correct-signature-discrepancies.aspx

Who Can Collect and Return an Absentee Ballot Other Than the Voter? 7/10/20
https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-10-who-can-collect-and-return-an-absentee-ballot-other-than-the-voter.aspx

Receipt and Postmark Deadlines for Absentee Ballots 8/11/20
https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-11-receipt-and-postmark-deadlines-for-absentee-ballots.aspx

When States Mail Out Absentee Ballots 7/8/20
https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-7-when-states-mail-out-absentee-ballots.aspx

How States Verify Voted Absentee Ballots 4/17/20
https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-14-how-states-verify-voted-absentee.aspx

[still_one]

1. California counts EVERY vote. For absentee or mail-in votes, the voter has the option to

mail in the ballot, drop off the ballot at any polling place, or exchange the mail in ballot and vote in person at the polling place

Mail in voters can check the status of the vote online, and when it has been counted also

[Hoyt]

2. I also believe that in Georgia, when they do early the processing, you'll be

able to check on-line that it was received.

[HotTeaBag]

3. Thank you very much for that.

I plan on voting in-person, but that's invaluable information.

[beachbumbob]

4. We have in person early voting that will be safe enough

As never any wait at our clerks office.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. I had planned on absentee voting and have sent in my application for a ballot.

However, after the reports we've heard about the post office in the last few days, I think I will mask up, don gloves and go down to the courthouse for early voting. This may be the most important election of my life and I want to make sure my vote is counted.

[LisaL]

7. Is your state going to allow it?

I signed up for absentee ballot as well. Because I signed up, I won't be allowed to vote in person by regular ballot. Only on election day by provisional ballot.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. I hadn't thought about that. I'll have to check it out. I may wind up filling out my ballot and

dropping it off in person. At any rate, I want to avoid standing in line and being around a lot of people. I've gotten a little paranoid.

[stillcool]

6. What is it about putting a ballot

in the mail, and having it delivered to the local election office, that has Republicans freaking out? There must be something vastly different that goes on when voting in person. Voter suppression has many forms, but the number of votes negated must be considerable if an even close to accurate count can not happen. And what is up with Florida? What does that state do, that makes Republicans comfortable with mail-in-ballots. Elections have been problematic, but don't these revelations imply the accuracy of vote counts is impossible to calculate? And what about all the statistics, based on previous elections? Ah...I'm definitely voting by mail...I think.