Voting is already happening in 15 states: when and how to vote early in your state

Early voting periods have officially begun in 15 states, and more will start in October. Knowing the details of your own state’s rules is critical if you hope to participate in the process.

Nearly every state offers residents options to vote before Election Day on November 5, but these options vary widely in start date, duration, and available methods depending on the state. A few states don’t even allow early voting for all residents, only for those with an approved excuse. Check out the map below for details on each state’s early voting process, and read on for a more in-depth analysis.

Early voting gained renewed attention during 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 that race, did so before Election Day — in person or by mail — with almost 50% do this too during the 2022 midterm elections, suggesting the increased trend of early voting could continue.

For more information about the election, learn how to find your voter registration online and where each presidential candidate stands on the child tax credit

What is early voting?

Although it may have different names depending on the state, “early voting” refers to the process by which you can cast your vote before Election Day.

Some states call it in-person early votingwhich allows you to go to a specific polling place and cast your vote in a manner similar to how you would vote in person on Election Day.

Other states call it in-person absentee votingwhich allows 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 mentioned no-excuse absentee votingmeaning any registered voter can do this for any reason. Every state, even the few that have no other early voting options, offers absentee voting for people with eligible excuses, such as serving in the military or attending school while away from home.

If the early voting page for the National Conference of State Legislatures notes that these two methods ultimately feel much the same to voters.

What about voting by email?

A handful of states and Washington DC hold their elections under one all mail This means that every registered voter will receive a ballot that he or she can fill out and return before Election Day. These states also offer other early voting options if their voters want it for some reason. So it’s best to contact your local elections office for more information about these options.

When does early voting start in my state?

Below is more information about the process, broken down by state, based on voting information collected by the NCSL. As a reminder, requesting an absentee ballot by mail is widely available to registered voters with eligible excuses. Below is another interactive map showing which states have begun 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. For each of these states, these periods extend through Election Day. In Vermont, an all-mail state, ballots had to be mailed to residents by October 1. The remaining states and DC will join the fray over the next month.

Alabama: No early voting, only absentee voting with an approved excuse.

Alaska: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 21st in most places and lasts until Election Day. Contact your local elections supervisor’s office to confirm any discrepancies.

Arizona: In-person absentee voting. Starts everywhere on October 9 and lasts until November 1, the Friday before Election Day. This end date may vary under certain circumstances, so check with your local elections office.

Arkansas: In-person early voting begins on October 21 and runs until November 4, the day before Election Day.

California: The state has voting by mail, with other early voting options. The early period begins on October 7 and runs until Election Day.

Colorado: Voting by mail, with options for in-person voting. The early period begins on October 21 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

Connecticut: The state has in-person early voting. Starts on October 21 and lasts until November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Delaware: The state has in-person early voting. Starts on October 25 and lasts until November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

District of Columbia: Voting by mail, with in-person early voting options. The early period begins on October 28 and lasts until November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Florida: In-person early voting. Starts as early as October 26 and can run until November 2, the Sunday before Election Day, but dates may vary by province. For more information, contact your local elections office.

Georgia: In-person early voting. Starts on October 15 and lasts until November 1, the Friday before Election Day.
Hawaii: Voting by mail, with early in-person options. The early period lasts from October 22 until Election Day.

Idaho: In-person absentee voting, but only in some counties. Starts on October 21 and lasts until November 1, the Friday before Election Day. Contact your local election office to confirm early voting options.

Illinois: Early in-person voting. Starts on September 26 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

Indiana: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 8 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

Iowa: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 16 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

Kansas: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 16 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

Kentucky: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 31 and lasts until November 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

Louisiana: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 18 and lasts until October 29, a week before Election Day.

Maine: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 6 and lasts until October 31, the Thursday before Election Day.

Maryland: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 24 and lasts until October 31, the Thursday before Election Day.

Massachusetts: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 19 and lasts until November 1, the Friday before Election Day.

Michigan: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 26 and lasts until November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Minnesota: In-person absentee voting. Starts on September 20 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

Mississippi: No early voting; only absentee voting with an approved excuse. The absentee period begins on September 23 and lasts until November 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

Missouri: Early Absentee Voting. The time frame starts earlier for those with an approved excuse for absence: September 17. The absence period without excuse starts on October 22. Both periods end on November 4, the Monday before Election Day.

Montana: Early Absentee Voting. Starts on October 7 and lasts until November 4 at noon, the day before Election Day.

Nebraska: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 7 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

Nevada: Voting by mail, with other early voting options. The early period begins on October 12 and lasts until November 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. Starts on October 26 and lasts until November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

New Mexico: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 8 and lasts until Election Day.

New York: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 26 and lasts until November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

North Carolina: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 17 and lasts until November 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

North Dakota: Early in-person voting. Starts at least 15 days before Election Day, but the time frame varies from state to state and potential voters should contact their local elections office for confirmation.

Ohio: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 8 and runs until 5pm on November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Oklahoma: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 30 and lasts until November 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

Oregon: Voting by mail, with other early voting options. The first period begins Oct. 31 and lasts through Election Day, with election officials planning to mail ballots to all registered voters between Oct. 16 and 18.

Pennsylvania: In-person absentee voting. Starts as early as four weeks before Election Day and lasts until Election Day. The exact time varies by area, so check with your local elections office to confirm.

Rhode Island: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 16 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

South Carolina: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 21 and lasts until November 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

South Dakota: In-person absentee voting. Starts on September 20th and lasts until 5pm on November 4th, the day before Election Day.

Tennessee: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 16 and lasts until October 31, the Thursday before Election Day.

Texas: Early in-person voting. Starts on October 21 and lasts until November 1, the Friday before Election Day.

Utah: Voting by mail, with other early voting options. The early period begins on October 22 and lasts until November 1, the Friday before Election Day.

Vermont: Voting by mail, with other early voting options. Ballots are mailed no later than October 1 and can be submitted through Election Day.

Virginia: In-person absentee voting. Starts on September 20 and lasts through Election Day.

Washington: Voting by email, with other early options. The early period begins on October 18 and lasts through Election Day.

West Virginia: In-person early voting. Starts on October 23 and lasts until November 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

Wisconsin: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 22 and lasts until November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

Wyoming: In-person absentee voting. Starts on October 8 and lasts until November 4, the day before Election Day.

For more information about the elections, you can find out what is on your ballot online as follows.