UIST 2026

To attendees who are eligible to vote in the U.S.: the 2026 midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, the first day of the main conference. Please vote before you travel to Detroit. The two most reliable ways to do that this year:

• Vote early in person. Most states offer early voting in the days before the election (in Michigan, Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1). Find locations and hours through your state or local election office.
• Already have a mail ballot? Drop it off. Returning it to an official drop box, your local election office, or (in many states) an early voting site avoids postal delays entirely. Election officials, including Michigan’s Secretary of State, are encouraging voters to do this.

If you do need to mail your ballot, mail it by Tuesday, October 27. Most states, including Michigan, count a mail ballot only if it arrives by Election Day, and the U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing at least a week ahead. Postmarks can also lag the day you mail, so if your state counts ballots postmarked by Election Day, ask for a hand-cancelled postmark at a post office counter. Either way, track your ballot on your state’s election website so you can fix any problems before you leave.

As of October 20, the Supreme Court has blocked new federal Postal Service rules for mail ballots from taking effect for this election. Litigation is ongoing and rules can change close to Election Day, which is one more reason to vote early or drop off your ballot rather than rely on the mail. See Election Day: Tuesday, November 3 on the attending page for full details, including returning a mail ballot, state-by-state notes, and sources.