Voting Already Happening in 15 States: When and How to Vote Early in Your State

Early voting periods have officially begun in 15 states, with the rest set to begin in October. Knowing the specifics about your country’s laws is important if you hope to participate in this process.

Almost all states offer citizens options that allow them to vote before Election Day on Nov. 5, but these options vary greatly in terms of start date, duration and available methods, depending on the country. A few states don’t even have the option for all residents to vote early, only those with approved excuses. Check out the map below for details on each state’s early voting process, and read on for a more detailed explanation.

Early voting received renewed attention in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the 2020 presidential race was in full swing. About 70% of the 154.6 million Americans who voted in the race did so before Election Day — either in person or by mail — and about 50% did so during the 2022 midterms, suggesting the early voting boom could continue. . .

For more information about the election, read about how to get online voter registration and where each presidential candidate stands on the child tax credit.

What is early voting?

Although it may go by different names from state to state, “early voting” refers to the process that allows you to vote before Election Day.

Some states call it that early votingwhich allows you to go to a polling place and vote in the same way you would vote in person on Election Day.

Some states refer to it as absentee votingwhich allows you to visit an elected office, request an absentee ballot for any reason, fill it out, and submit it during the same visit. This can be called again there is no excuse to vote absentwhich means any registered voter can do it for any reason. All states, even the few that have no other early voting options, offer absentee voting to those with valid reasons, such as serving in the military or going to school away from home.

As the first polling page of the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, the two methods end up sounding very similar to voters at the end of the day.

What about all email polls?

A number of states and Washington, DC, conduct their elections under the guise of elections all emails system, which means that every registered voter is mailed a ballot that they can fill out and return on Election Day. These states also offer other early voting options if their voters want them for any reason, so it’s a good idea to contact your local election office for information about those options.

When does early voting start in my state?

Below, we have more information about the process, broken down by country, based on voting information collected by NCSL. Just a reminder that requesting an absentee ballot by mail is available everywhere to registered voters with a valid excuse. Below, you’ll find another interactive map that lays out which counties have started their early voting periods.

As of Saturday, October 12, early voting periods have begun in Arizona, California, Indiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, and Wyoming. In each country, these periods will run until Election Day. In Vermont, an all-mail state, ballots had to be mailed to residents by October 1. The remaining states and DC joined the fray within the next month.

In Alabama: No early voting, only absentee voting with approved excuses.

Alaska: Absentee voting. It starts on October 21st in most places and lasts until Election Day. Contact your local election administrator’s office to confirm any discrepancies.

In Arizona: Absentee voting. It starts on October 9 everywhere and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day. This deadline may vary under certain circumstances so check with your local election office.

Arkansas: Early voting begins Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

California: The state has all-mail voting, and other early voting options. The early period begins on October 7 and continues until Election Day.

In Colorado: Mail-in voting, with early voting options. The early season starts on Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

Connecticut: The country has early voting. It starts on October 21 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Delaware: The country has early voting. It starts on October 25 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

District of Columbia: Mail-in voting, with early voting options. The early season starts on Oct. 28 and runs through Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Florida: Early voting. It starts before Oct. 26 and may start on Nov. 2, the Sunday before Election Day, but the dates may vary by state. Contact your local election office for details.

Georgia: Early voting. It starts on October 15 and runs until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.
In Hawaii: Mail-in voting, with early options. The early period runs from October 22 until Election Day.

Idaho: Absentee voting, but only in some districts. It starts on October 21 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day. Contact your local elections office to confirm early voting options.

Illinois: Early voting. It starts on September 26 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

Indiana: Absentee voting. It starts on October 8 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

Iowa: Absentee voting. It starts on October 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

in Kansas: Absentee voting. It starts on October 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

In Kentucky: Absentee voting. It starts on October 31 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

Louisiana: Early voting. It starts on October 18th and lasts until Oct. 29, one week before Election Day.

Maine: Absentee voting. It starts on October 6 and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.

Maryland: Early voting. It starts on October 24th and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.

In Massachusetts: Early voting. It starts on October 19 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.

In Michigan: Early voting. It starts on October 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

In Minnesota: Absentee voting. It starts on September 20th and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

Mississippi: No early voting; absentee voting only with authorized excuses. The furlough period starts on September 23rd and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

In Missouri: Early student voting. The time frame starts earlier for those with approved excuses for absence: Sept. 17. No Time to Miss Starts Oct. 22. Both periods end on Nov. 4, the Monday before Election Day.

Montana: Early student voting. It begins on October 7 and lasts until noon on November 4, the day before Election Day.

Nebraska: Early voting. It starts on October 7th and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

Nevada: All-mail voting, and other early voting options. The early season starts on Oct. 12 and lasts until Nov. 1, the day before Election Day.

New Hampshire: There are no early voting options only when voting absent with an approved excuse.

New Jersey: Early voting. It starts on October 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

New Mexico: Early voting. It starts on October 8th and lasts until Election Day.

New York: Early voting. It starts on October 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

North Carolina: Early voting. It starts on October 17 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

North Dakota: Early voting. It starts at least 15 days before Election Day, but the time varies by state and prospective voters should contact their local election office to confirm.

In Ohio: Absentee voting. It starts on October 8 and lasts until 5 pm on Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Oklahoma: Absentee voting. It starts on October 30 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

Oregon: All-mail voting, and other early voting options. The early season starts on Oct. 31 and ending on Election Day, election officials plan to mail ballots to all registered voters between Oct. 16 and Oct. 18.

In Pennsylvania: Absentee voting. It starts four weeks before Election Day and lasts until Election Day. The exact time varies by location, so contact your local election office to confirm.

Rhode Island: Absentee voting. It starts on October 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

South Carolina: Early voting. It starts on October 21 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

South Dakota: Absentee voting. It starts on September 20 and lasts until 5 pm on Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

Tennessee: Early voting. It starts on October 16 and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.

Texas: Early voting. It starts on October 21 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.

Utah: All-mail voting, and other early voting options. The early season starts on Oct. 22 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.

Vermont: All-mail voting, and other early voting options. Votes submitted before Oct. 1, and you can submit them on Election Day.

Virginia: Absentee voting. It starts on September 20 and runs until Election Day.

Washington: All mail polls, and other early options. The early period begins on October 18th and continues until Election Day.

West Virginia: Early voting. It starts on October 23 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

Wisconsin: Absentee voting. It starts on October 22 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Wyoming: Absentee voting. It starts on October 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.