Early voting periods have officially begun in 15 states, with more states set to begin in October. If you want to participate in this process, it’s important to learn more about your state’s rules.
Nearly all states offer residents the option to vote before Election Day, Nov. 5, but these options vary widely in start dates, duration, and available methods. In some states, early voting is not available to all residents, and only those with an excuse can vote. Check out the map below for more information on each state’s early voting process, and keep reading for a more detailed breakdown.
Early voting gained renewed attention during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the 2020 presidential election was in full swing. About 70% Of the 154.6 million Americans who voted in that race, they did so in person or by mail before Election Day. Almost 50% do so This suggests that the trend of increasing early voting may continue during the 2022 midterm elections.
For more information about the election, read how to find voter registration online and where each presidential candidate qualifies for the child tax credit.
What is early voting?
Although it has different names in different states, “early voting” refers to the process by which you can vote before Election Day.
In some states it is called In-person early votingallows you to go to a specific polling place and vote the same way you would vote in person on Election Day.
Other states call it in-person absentee votingallows you to visit a designated office, request an absentee ballot for any reason, fill it out, and submit it during the same visit. This is also sometimes called no excuse absentee votingwhich means any registered voter can do it for any reason. All states offer absentee voting to people with qualifying reasons, such as serving in the military or attending school away from home, including a small number of states that have no other early voting options. I am.
As an early voting page for National Conference of State Legislatures According to the memo, these two methods will ultimately feel about the same to voters.
What about all-mail voting?
A small number of states and Washington, D.C., conduct elections based on the following provisions: all mail This system allows all registered voters to receive a ballot in the mail, which they can fill out and return by Election Day. These states also offer other early voting options in case voters wish to vote early for any reason, so please contact your local election office for more information about these options. is the best.
When does early voting start in my state?
Below you will find detailed information on the process broken down by state based on voting information collected by. NCSL. Remember, you can request an absentee ballot by mail anywhere if you are an eligible registered voter. Below is another interactive map showing which states have opened early voting periods.
As of Saturday, October 12th, Arizona, California, Indiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, Illinois, Minnesota, and Virginia. The early voting period has begun in the state of Wyoming. In each of these states, these periods run until Election Day. In Vermont, an all-mail state, ballots were supposed to be mailed to residents by October 1st at the latest. The remaining states and Washington, D.C., will join the fray within the next month.
Alabama: There will be no early voting, only absentee voting with a valid reason.
Alaska: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 21 in most regions and continues until Election Day. Please contact your local elections supervisor’s office to confirm potential differences.
Arizona: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 9th in each region and runs until November 1st, the Friday before voting day. Please check with your local elections office as this end date may vary depending on your specific circumstances.
Arkansas: In-person early voting begins on October 21st and continues until November 4th, the day before Election Day.
California: The state has all-mail voting and other early voting options. The initial period begins Oct. 7 and runs through Election Day.
Colorado: All voting by mail, with an in-person early voting option. The first period begins on October 21st and runs until November 4th, the day before election day.
Connecticut: The state has in-person early voting. It begins on October 21st and runs until November 3rd, the Sunday before voting day.
Delaware: The state has in-person early voting. It begins on October 25th and runs until November 3rd, the Sunday before Election Day.
District of Columbia: All voting by mail, with an in-person early voting option. The initial period begins on October 28th and runs until November 3rd, the Sunday before Election Day.
Florida: In-person early voting. It could begin as early as October 26 and last until November 2, the Sunday before Election Day, although dates may vary by county. Please contact your local elections office for more information.
Georgia: In-person early voting. It begins on October 15th and runs until November 1st, the Friday before Election Day.
Hawaii: All-mail voting with early in-person options. The initial period will run from October 22nd until Election Day.
Idaho: Absentee voting is only available in some counties. It begins on October 21st and runs until November 1st, the Friday before election day. Contact your local elections office for early voting options.
Illinois: Early voting. It begins on September 26th and runs until November 4th, the day before voting.
Indiana: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 8th and runs until November 4th, the day before Election Day.
Iowa: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 16th and runs until November 4th, the day before Election Day.
Kansas: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 16th and runs until November 4th, the day before Election Day.
Kentucky: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 31st and runs until November 2nd, the Saturday before voting day.
Louisiana: Early voting. It begins on October 18th and runs until October 29th, one week before voting day.
Maine: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 6th and runs until October 31st, the Thursday before Election Day.
Maryland: Early voting. It begins on October 24th and runs until October 31st, the Thursday before voting day.
Massachusetts: Early voting. It begins on October 19th and runs until November 1st, the Friday before Election Day.
Michigan: Early voting. It begins on October 26th and runs until November 3rd, the Sunday before Election Day.
Minnesota: Absentee voting in person. It begins on September 20th and runs until November 4th, the day before Election Day.
Mississippi: There is no early voting. Absentee ballots with an approved excuse only. The period of absence begins on September 23rd and lasts until November 2nd, the Saturday before voting day.
Missouri: Early absentee voting. For those with an approved excuse for absence, this period is earlier and begins on September 17th. The no-excuse absence period begins October 22nd. Both periods end on November 4, the Monday before Election Day.
Montana: Early absentee voting. It begins on October 7th and runs until noon on November 4th, the day before Election Day.
Nebraska: Early voting. It begins on October 7th and runs until November 4th, the day before Election Day.
Nevada: All-mail voting with other early voting options. The first period begins on October 12th and runs through November 1st, the day before Election Day.
New Hampshire: There is no early voting option, only absentee voting with an approved excuse.
New Jersey: Early voting. It begins on October 26th and runs until November 3rd, the Sunday before Election Day.
New Mexico: Early voting. It begins on October 8th and continues until Election Day.
new york: Early voting. It begins on October 26th and runs until November 3rd, the Sunday before Election Day.
North Carolina: Early voting. It begins on October 17th and runs until November 2nd, the Saturday before voting day.
North Dakota: Early voting. It begins at least 15 days before Election Day, but the period varies by state, so prospective voters should check with their local election office to find out.
Ohio: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 8th and runs until 5pm on November 3rd, the Sunday before Election Day.
Oklahoma: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 30th and runs until November 2nd, the Saturday before voting day.
Oregon: All-mail voting with other early voting options. The initial period begins Oct. 31 and runs through Election Day, with election officials scheduled to mail ballots to all registered voters between Oct. 16 and Oct. 18.
Pennsylvania: Absentee voting in person. It begins four weeks before Election Day and continues until Election Day. Exact times vary by region, so please contact your local elections office.
Rhode Island: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 16th and runs until November 4th, the day before Election Day.
South Carolina: Early voting. It begins on October 21st and runs until November 2nd, the Saturday before voting day.
South Dakota: Absentee voting in person. It begins on September 20th and runs until 5pm on November 4th, the day before voting.
Tennessee: Early voting. It begins on October 16th and runs until October 31st, the Thursday before Election Day.
Texas: Early voting. It begins on October 21st and runs until November 1st, the Friday before election day.
Utah: All-mail voting with other early voting options. The first period begins on October 22nd and runs until November 1st, the Friday before election day.
Vermont: All-mail voting with other early voting options. Ballots will be sent out no later than October 1 and can be submitted until Election Day.
Virginia: Absentee voting in person. It begins on September 20th and continues until Election Day.
Washington: All-mail voting, other early options available. The initial period begins Oct. 18 and runs through Election Day.
West Virginia: In-person early voting. It begins on October 23rd and runs until November 2nd, the Saturday before voting day.
Wisconsin: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 22nd and runs until November 3rd, the Sunday before Election Day.
Wyoming: Absentee voting in person. It begins on October 8th and runs until November 4th, the day before Election Day.
For more information about elections, see how to check your ballot online.
