Early voting periods have officially begun in five states, with more set to kick off throughout October. Knowing the specifics about your own state’s rules is crucial if you’re hoping to take part in the process.
Almost every state offers residents options allowing them to vote before Election Day on Nov. 5, but these options vary greatly in terms of start date, lengths and methods available, depending on the state. A few states don’t even have the option for all residents to vote early, just those with an approved excuse. Check out the map below for details about each state’s early voting process, and read on for a more in-depth breakdown.
Early voting got renewed attention during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the 2020 presidential race was in full swing. Around 70% of the 154.6 million Americans who voted in that race did so prior to Election Day — either in person or by mail — with nearly 50% also doing so during the 2022 midterms, suggesting that the increased early voting trend might last.
For more information about the election, read about how you can find your voter registration online and where each presidential candidate stands on the child tax credit
What is early voting?
While it may go by different names depending on the state, “early voting” refers to the process that allows you to cast your vote prior to Election Day.
Some states call it in-person early voting, which lets you go to a specific polling place and casting your vote in a way similar to how you’d vote in person on Election Day.
Other states refer to it as in-person absentee voting, which lets you to visit a designated office, request an absentee ballot for any reason, fill it out, and submit it during the same visit. This may also be called no-excuse absentee voting, meaning that any registered voter can do it for any reason. Every state, even the few with no other early voting options, offer absentee voting for those with eligible excuses, such as serving in the military or attending school away from home.
As the early voting page for the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, these two methods end up feeling pretty much the same for voters at the end of the day.
What about all-mail voting?
A handful of states and Washington, DC, run their elections under an all-mail system, meaning that every registered voter is mailed a ballot that they can fill out and return by Election Day. These states also offer other early voting options should their voters want them for whatever reason, so it’s best to contact your local election office for details about those options.
When does early voting start in my state?
Below, we have more details information about the process, broken down by state, based on voting information gathered by the NCSL. Just a reminder that requesting an absentee ballot by mail is available everywhere for registered voters with eligible excuses. Below, you’ll find another interactive map laying out which states have begun their early voting periods.
As of Sept. 26, early voting periods have started in South Dakota, Vermont, Illinois, Minnesota and Virginia, with the latter two of those being considered key swing states for presidential elections. For each of those states, these periods will go all the way through Election Day. In Vermont, an all-mail state, ballots will be mailed out to residents no later than Oct. 1. The remaining states and DC join the fray over the course of the next month.
Alabama: No early voting, only absentee voting with an approved excuse.
Alaska: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 21 in most places and lasts until Election Day. Contact your local election supervisor’s office to confirm any potential differences.
Arizona: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 9 everywhere and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day. This end date can vary under certain circumstances so check with your local election office.
Arkansas: In-person early voting begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
California: The state has all-mail voting, with other early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 7 and runs until Election Day.
Colorado: All-mail voting, with in-person early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Connecticut: The state has in-person early voting. Begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Delaware: The state has in-person early voting. Begins Oct. 25 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
District of Columbia: All-mail voting, with in-person early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 28 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Florida: In-person early voting. Begins as early as Oct. 26 and may run to Nov. 2, the Sunday before Election Day, but dates can vary by county. Contact your local election office for details.
Georgia: In-person early voting. Begins Oct. 15 and last until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.
Hawaii: All-mail voting, with early in-person options. Early period lasts from Oct. 22 until Election Day.
Idaho: In-person absentee voting, but only in some counties. Begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day. Contact your local election office to confirm early voting options.
Illinois: Early in-person voting. Begins Sept. 26 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Indiana: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 8 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Iowa: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Kansas: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Kentucky: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 31 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
Louisiana: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 18 and lasts until Oct. 29, one week before Election Day.
Maine: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 6 and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.
Maryland: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 24 and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.
Massachusetts: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 19 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.
Michigan: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Minnesota: In-person absentee voting. Begins Sept. 20 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Mississippi: No early voting; only absentee voting with an approved excuse. Absentee period begins Sept. 23 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
Missouri: Early absentee voting. The time frame begins earlier for those with an approved absentee excuse: Sept. 17. No Excuse absentee period begins Oct. 22. Both periods end on Nov. 4, the Monday before Election Day.
Montana: Early absentee voting. Begins Oct. 7 and lasts until noon on Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Nebraska: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 7 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Nevada: All-mail voting, with other early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 12 and lasts until Nov. 1, the day before Election Day.
New Hampshire: No early voting options only absentee voting with an approved excuse.
New Jersey: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
New Mexico: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 8 and lasts until Election Day.
New York: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
North Carolina: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 17 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
North Dakota: Early in-person voting. Begins at least 15 days prior to Election Day, but the time frame varies across the state and prospective voters should contact their local election office to confirm.
Ohio: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 8 and lasts until 5 p.m. on Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Oklahoma: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 30 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
Oregon: All-mail voting, with other early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 31 and last through Election Day, with election officials planning to mail ballots to all registered voters between Oct. 16 and Oct. 18.
Pennsylvania: In-person absentee voting. Begins as early as four weeks prior to Election Day and lasts until Election Day. The exact time varies by area, so contact your local election office to confirm.
Rhode Island: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
South Carolina: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
South Dakota: In-person absentee voting. Begins Sept. 20 and lasts until 5 pm on Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Tennessee: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 16 and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.
Texas: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.
Utah: All-mail voting, with other early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 22 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.
Vermont: All-mail voting, with other early voting options. Ballots sent out no later than Oct. 1, and you can submit through Election Day.
Virginia: In-person absentee voting. Begins Sept. 20 and lasts through Election Day.
Washington: All-mail voting, with other early options. Early period begins Oct. 18 and lasts through Election Day.
West Virginia: In-person early voting. Begins Oct. 23 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
Wisconsin: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 22 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Wyoming: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 8 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
For more information about the election, here’s how you can find out what’s on your ballot online.
Source: CNET
