Election Day is still about two months away, but many voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots before November 5. Some have already started receiving mail-in ballots.
Early voting became more widespread during the 2020 election, when more than 100 million voters cast their ballots by mail or in person before Election Day. As the coronavirus pandemic raged that fall, early voting allowed people to avoid crowding polling places — and many states kept these voting options in place.
Here’s a look at key dates, deadlines, and ways to vote early.
What is early voting and how does it work?
Early voting allows voters to cast their ballots before Election Day. Most states offer both in-person and mail-in voting, though options vary by state.
With mail-in voting, voters can request that a ballot be sent to them or, in some cases, have one automatically delivered to them. Eight states, including California and Nevada, send mail-in ballots to all registered voters, as does the District of Columbia.
In the past, voters who couldn’t make it to the polls on Election Day had to request an absentee ballot. But mail-in and absentee ballots now work the same way in many states, and the terminology used varies. But in 14 states, including Texas, South Carolina and Indiana, voters still have to provide a valid excuse to vote absentee.
There is also early in-person voting. In some states, this can take the form of in-person absentee voting: Voters can go to their polling place, fill out an absentee ballot, and submit it, all in the same visit. In others, the process mirrors Election Day procedures, with votes cast on voting machines.
Which states offer early voting?
All states offer some form of absentee voting, and all but three offer early in-person voting; the District of Columbia as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also offer early in-person voting. The three states that do not are Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire, but they do offer options for absentee voters in some cases.
Here is a timeline for September:
- September 11 — Alabama became the first state to launch early voting, sending absentee ballots to eligible voters who provided a reason to receive one. North Carolina would have been the first to send out mail-in ballots, but it was delayed by legal wrangling over the removal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name after he withdrew from the race.
- September 16 — Pennsylvania launches early in-person voting and begins sending mail-in ballots to eligible voters who requested them.
- September 19 — Wisconsin begins mailing ballots to voters who requested them.
- September 20 — Minnesota and South Dakota launch early voting by mail and in-person; Virginia launches early voting in person.
- September 21 — Federal deadline for mailing all mail-in ballots to military and overseas voters. Eleven states will mail out their mail-in ballots by this date, with North Carolina expected to do the same.
- September 23 — Mississippi will mail out mail-in ballots to voters who requested them.
- September 26 — Mail-in voting begins in Michigan (voters must request an absentee ballot).
- September 30 — Nebraska will send absentee ballots to eligible voters who request them.
Other key states to begin early in-person voting in October:
- October 7 — Georgia begins mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters.
- October 9 — Arizona opens in-person and absentee voting. To receive an absentee ballot, voters must apply to be added to the state’s active early voting list.
- October 15 — Early in-person voting begins in Georgia.
- October 16 — Nevada sends absentee ballots to all registered voters.
- October 17 — North Carolina begins early in-person voting.
- October 19 — Nevada begins early in-person voting.
- October 21 — Texas begins early in-person voting.
- October 22 — Wisconsin begins early in-person voting.
- October 26 — Michigan opens early in-person voting, the latest key state to do so.
Where can I find more information about early voting?
States are taking different approaches to early voting. To learn more about your options, visit your state or local election office website. You can search here .
When do I need to register? Where can I check my voter registration?
Most states allow registration through October, and some offer same-day registration at polling places. Check your voter registration status at vote.org . To find out when you need to register, go to vote.gov and select your state or territory.
How do I update my voter registration?
There is a portal on vote.gov that will show you how. Enter your state or territory to get started.
Where can I check my state’s voting deadline?
Most states require that mail-in ballots be postmarked or cast in person by Election Day. Check your state's policy on vote.org by selecting your state or territory. You can also find this information on your state's election office or secretary of state's website.
