There is less than a week left until the 2024 general election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. This means early voting is still underway, at least in most states. 55 million people have already voted –And for some people, it’s important to know that early voting locations are likely to be different than voting locations on Election Day.
Experts on America’s election process have often encouraged people to make the most of early voting. Not only is it convenient for busy people who are pressed for time on Election Day, it also gives them extra time to address any issues with their voter registration or ballot.
With that in mind, read how to find your early voting location online. If you want to learn more about elections, read how selfies on your ballot can land you in legal trouble and find out if there’s still time to register to vote.
What is early voting?
When we hear the term “early voting,” many people think of so-called “early voting,” in which voters go to a specific location and vote in person before election day. These locations often resemble the polling places you might see on the big day, with volunteer poll workers and booths to fill out ballots.
In some states, you must go to your local government office, request an absentee ballot, fill it out, and submit it on the spot. This method is often referred to as “in-person absentee voting” or “no-excuse absentee voting.” Only a few states, Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire, do not offer universal early voting and only allow people to request an absentee ballot with an approved excuse. are.
Where are the polling places for early voting?
In particular, the location of “early voting” is often different from the polling place you will go to on Election Day, so be sure to check. Online tools that claim to help you find your “voting place” will almost always give you an address to go to on Election Day, not during early voting, forcing you to look elsewhere.
The best place to find out where you can vote early is to visit your local county government’s official website. Simply search for your county’s name and the term “early voting” and you should find a list of pages where residents can go to vote early. Another good way to find the information you need is your county’s information. Election Commission Website.
In some cases, you’ll see multiple locations listed, but don’t worry, residents should be able to vote at any location. Therefore, choose the location closest to you. as Vote.org memoDepending on where you live, you may need to specifically search for “absentee voting” to find the information you need.
See the interactive map below for details on each state’s early voting period.
For more information on preparing for this election, see how to find a sample ballot online.