Can I vote on November 4? Early voting on the eve of election day

Tomorrow is Election Day 2024, which means early voting periods have now ended in many states. However, this isn’t the case everywhere, so you might be lucky if you want to vote before the big day.

Nearly every state offers residents the opportunity 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.

On November 1, early voting periods ended in a handful of states, including the key battlegrounds of Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, as well as Idaho, Massachusetts, Texas and Utah. This past week, early voting also closed in Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland and Tennessee. The weekend also saw many more states end early voting, including places like Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin, as well as Washington, DC.

However, early voting is still available in a handful of states, with these periods expected to last until Election Day itself. While early voting has ended in most parts of Florida, it is important to note that it is still available in Pinellas County, home to cities like St. Petersburg and Clearwater, with a population of just under a million.

For all the details you need to know about when and how long your state will allow early voting, see the full overview below.

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

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

Arizona: In-person absentee voting. Started everywhere on October 9 and lasted 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 began on October 21 and will last until November 4, the day before Election Day.

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: In-person early voting. Started as early as October 26 and continued until November 2 in most places except Pinellas County

Georgia: In-person early voting. Started on October 15 and lasted 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. Started on October 21 and lasted until November 1, the Friday before Election Day. Contact your local election office to confirm early voting options.

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

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

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

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

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

Louisiana: Early in-person voting. Started on October 18 and ended on October 29, a week before Election Day.

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

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

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

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

Minnesota: In-person absentee voting. Started 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 began on September 23 and lasts until November 2, the Saturday before Election Day.

Missouri: Early Absentee Voting. The time frame started earlier for those with an approved excuse for absences: September 17. The no-excuse absence period began on October 22. Both periods end on November 4, the Monday before Election Day.

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

Nebraska: Early in-person voting. Started 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 began on October 12 and lasted 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. Started on October 26 and lasted until November 3, the Sunday before Election Day.

New Mexico: Early in-person voting. Started on October 8 and will last until Election Day.

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

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

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

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

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

Oregon: Vote by email. Election officials planned to mail ballots to all registered voters between Oct. 16 and 18.

Pennsylvania: In-person absentee voting. Ballots can be requested four to six weeks before Election Day and can be submitted until Election Day. The exact time varies by area, so check with your local elections office to confirm.

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

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

South Dakota: In-person absentee voting. Began on September 20 and lasted until 5:00 PM on November 4, the day before Election Day.

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

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

Utah: Voting by mail, with other early voting options. The early period began on October 22 and lasted 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. Started on September 20 and will last through Election Day.

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

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

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

Wyoming: In-person absentee voting. Started 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.