How will my vote be counted? Here’s what's new in 2024

With election laws changing all over the country since the 2020 election, many voters will encounter new rules when it comes time to count their ballots.

The effects vary widely: some rules may make it more likely that your vote is counted, others less likely that your vote is counted, and some just make it more likely that you’ll know the results of your state’s election before you go to sleep on Nov. 5.

“For many Americans, voting in this year’s election will be the most accessible experience they’ve had voting, but for others it will be much harder than it was in 2020 or even 2016,” said Megan Bellamy, vice president of law and policy for the nonprofit advocacy group Voting Rights Lab.

“It’ll be really important for them to understand what’s different about their voting experience and what’s expected of them, especially in states that there are restrictions,” Bellamy said. “Just don’t rely on that previous experience to necessarily hold true.”

Here is a list of states that have changed the way votes are counted since the 2020 presidential election. The list is sourced from interviews with nonpartisan experts, information from state election officials, and copies of state laws.

Get your absentee ballot in earlier in these states

At least five states have moved up the deadline for returning absentee ballots to local election offices. This means that you may have to return the ballot in person earlier or have it postmarked earlier. In some cases, if your ballot’s delivery is delayed in the mail, it may not be counted.

Arkansas voters need to return their absentee ballots to their county clerk’s office by the Friday before Election Day, or Nov. 1.

Iowa requires absentee ballots to be postmarked by Election Day, and they must be received by the close of polls, which is 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. You cannot hand-deliver your absentee ballot to a polling place on Election Day.

Ohio requires absentee ballots to be postmarked by the day before Election Day, in this case Monday, Nov. 4. If you meet the postmark deadline, your absentee ballot will only be counted if the elections office receives your ballot by the fourth day after the election, which is Saturday, Nov. 9. Absentee ballots returned in person must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Nevada requires your absentee ballot to be postmarked by Election Day, and will count your vote if it arrives within four days, or by 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9. If the elections office can’t discern the postmark on the envelope, the ballot will be counted if is received within three days of Election Day, or 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.

North Carolina voters need their ballots to reach the election office by the close of polls on Election Day, or 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. The state does not accept absentee ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive later.

These states made absentee return more flexible

At least seven states and the District of Columbia lengthened their deadlines for when they will count absentee ballots. This gives you more flexibility in returning your ballot, and in some cases means that if your mailed ballot is delayed in the mail, it will still be counted.

Alabama requires absentee ballots to be received by noon on Election Day. Hand-delivered ballots must be received before close of business on the day before the election, which is Monday Nov. 4.

California requires absentee ballots to be postmarked by Election Day and will count them if they are received within seven days.

Indiana requires absentee ballots to be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day.

New York requires absentee ballots to be postmarked by Election Day and will count them if they are received up to seven days after the election, which is Nov. 12.

Oregon requires absentee ballots to be postmarked by Election Day and will count them if they are received up to seven days after the election.

Washington, D.C. requires absentee ballots to be postmarked by Election Day and will count ballots received up to 10 days after the election.

You’re likely to know results earlier in these states

In at least 10 states, election officials are now allowed to start processing or counting votes earlier than they were in 2020. This reduces the amount of administrative work that happens after the polls close on Election Day and means that the public is likely to get partial, unofficial counts of results earlier. It does not mean that vote counts will be released to the public prior to the polls closing.

Delaware allows election workers to start verifying who submitted absentee ballots and taking the ballots out of envelopes up to 30 days before the election. They are allowed to place the ballots in scanners once that processing work is done. The state did not previously allow ballot processing until the Friday before Election Day, and did not allow the ballots to be put in scanners early.

Hawaii allows counting absentee ballots up to 18 days before Election Day, but prohibits election officials from releasing results before polls close. Officials previously could only do this up to 10 days before Election Day.

Louisiana allows counting to begin on Election Day. The state previously didn't say when counting could begin.

Maryland allows absentee ballot counting to begin when polls open on Election Day, and says vote totals cannot be released until the polls close. During the 2020 election, officials could not count absentee ballots until the Wednesday after the election.

Michigan gives election officials in larger cities eight days before Nov. 5 to open absentee ballot envelopes and perform basic ballot verification. In 2020, this type of processing began on Election Day.

Nevada allows counting 15 days before Election Day, but results cannot be released before the polls close. In 2020, the state didn't begin counting until Election Day.

New Jersey allows counting absentee ballots five days before the election, but results cannot be released before the polls close. In 2020, the state didn't begin counting until Election Day.

New York allows counting absentee ballots to begin one hour before polls close. In 2020, the state did not start counting absentee ballots until after the election.

South Carolina allows counting of absentee ballots to start at 7 a.m. on Election Day. In 2020, counting couldn't start until 9 a.m.

Virginia requires election workers to start the process of examining absentee ballot envelopes, opening the envelopes, and placing the ballots in scanning machines at least seven days before Election Day. In 2020, election workers had more discretion to start the process later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How will my vote be counted? A look at 2024's new rules