Changes to Election Procedures Due to Sandy

 In light of Superstorm Sandy, some states enacted changes in voting dates. Many thanks to the Atlas Project for compiling this helpful summary of updates and changes.

Updated November 6, 2012

Connecticut: Gov. Daniel Malloy signed an executive order on Sunday extending the voter-registration deadline to 8 p.m. on Thursday. The original deadline was Tuesday.

Delaware: The state's registration deadline was Oct. 13, and the state does not offer early in-person voting or no-excuse absentee voting, so no changes to voting in the state have been announced.

Florida: The storm had no effect on early voting.

Georgia: The storm had no effect on early voting.

Maine: There are no changes to voting procedures due to the storm.

Maryland: Gov. Martin O'Malley had issued two executive orders cancelling early voting on Monday and Tuesday, with early voting expected to resume early on Wednesday morning. Early voting, which began on Oct. 27, will also be extended to Friday, and the hours for voting each day have been extended to run from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Massachusetts: There's no change to voting procedures; the state does not offer early in-person voting or no-excuse vote-by-mail.

New Hampshire: There are no changes to voting procedures; the state does not offer early in-person voting or no-excuse vote-by-mail.

New Jersey: Mail-in ballot applications are due on Tuesday, but there no word about whether that deadline will be extended, according to the New Jersey Department of State's website. The deadline to return mail-in ballots is 3 p.m. on Nov. 5, the day before the election. The state does not allow early in-person voting.

Update: November 4, 2012 Governor Christie announces that voters displaced by Sandy will be able to vote by e-mail or fax. Voters will have to submit a vote-by-mail application by email or fax to the local elections official, then they will be sent a ballot electronically or by fax. Voters have until 8 pm EST on November 6 to e-mail or fax their ballot. Click here fore more information. 

Update: November 5, 2012 Voters may vote by provisional ballot at any polling place.

Update: November 6, 2012 Election Officials in New Jersey expanded the ability of displaced voters to vote by extending the deadline to receive the signed waiver of secrecy and voted ballot to November 9th at 8 pm. Deadline to submit a vote by mail application remains today, November 6 by 5 pm. County clerks will process these applications and send voters a waiver of secrecy and ballot via email or fax by Friday, November 9 at 12 pm. Voters must send the signed waiver and voted ballot by fax or email no later than Friday, November 9 at 8 pm.

New York: The state doesn't allow early in-person voting. Election Day polling locations may change. The deadline for all voters to apply to vote by mail has been extend from October 30 to November 2; therefore, all applications to vote by mail must be received by mail or fax no later than Friday, November 2. The in-person deadline remains Monday, November 5. 

In addition, the deadline for absentee ballots to be received and counted has changed from 7 days after Election Day to 13 days after Election Day. Ballots must still be postmarked no later than Monday, November 5; however, they now have until November 19 to arrive at the local Board of Elections.

Update: November 4 - The New York City Board of Elections announced new polling locations for New York City. For a complete list of polling location changes, click here.

Update: November 5 - The Governor announced that voters may vote by provisional ballot at any polling place. 

North Carolina: Early voting in some counties was cancelled over the weekend. Early voting in Buxton at the Fessenden Center, however, was cancelled on Tuesday due to flooding, and the county elections office in Burnsville plans to close on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Ohio: Although the state allows in-person early voting and no-excuse voting by mail, the storm has had no effect on voting.

Pennsylvania: The state doesn't allow in-person early voting or no-excuse voting by mail; the storm has had no effect.

Rhode Island: The state doesn't allow in-person early voting or no-excuse voting by mail; the storm has had no effect.

South Carolina: The state doesn't allow in-person early voting or no-excuse voting by mail; the storm has had no effect.

Washington, D.C.: Although early voting began in the District on Oct. 22, according to the D.C. Board of Elections website, it was suspended on Monday and cancelled on Tuesday due to the storm. As of early Tuesday afternoon, no decision has been made on whether or not early voting will resume on Wednesday, according to the website.

West Virginia: Early voting in the counties of Braxton, Jefferson, Morgan, Nicholas, Preston, and Randolph was suspended for Tuesday only. Early voting is continuing in all other counties on Tuesday, and in all counties through Nov. 3.

Virginia: Although 21 voter offices, mostly in the northern part of the state, were closed on Monday, all but nine were open on Tuesday. The nine include those in the counties of Accomack, Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Tazewell, and Wise, and the cities of Falls Church and Norton. Absentee ballots were supposed to be returned by mail on Tuesday, but some of the affected voter offices will still accept ballots after the deadline, once the offices open and mail resumes.