The general election in the United States is coming up in just a few weeks, but people in almost twenty states can already vote early. By voting early, you can make polling places less crowded on election day and cut down on wait times. On Monday, October 21, early voting began in the following states:
- Alaska: Monday, Oct. 21
- Arizona: Wednesday, October 9
- Arkansas: Monday, Oct. 21
- Colorado: Oct. 21
- Connecticut: Oct. 21
- Georgia: Tuesday, October 15
- Idaho: Monday, Oct. 21
- Illinois: Thursday, September 26
- Indiana: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
- Louisiana: Friday, October 18
- Massachusetts: Saturday, October 19
- Minnesota: Friday, September 20
- Nevada: Saturday, October 19
- New Mexico: Tuesday, October 8
- North Carolina: Thursday, October 17
- Ohio: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
- Rhode Island: Wednesday, October 16
- South Carolina: Monday, Oct. 21
- Tennessee: Wednesday, October 16
- Texas: Monday, Oct. 21
- Virginia: Friday, September 20
- Washington: Friday, October 18
Voting early in Arizona
People in Arizona who want to vote early can get a ticket through the state’s Voter Information Portal or by calling the office of the County Recorder in their area. If you always want to get an early ticket in the mail, you can join the AEVL list. People must sign up at least eleven days before the election in order to get a vote in the mail.
You can also change your information by re-registering to vote and checking the box that says “YES, I want to automatically receive an early ballot for each election for which I am eligible.” You can also make this request online by going to your Service Arizona web page. On the Secretary of State’s page, you can find out more.
Voting early in Georgia
In Georgia, each city or town can set its own early voting time, but state law says that polling places must be open on:
Beginning on Tuesday, October 15, people could vote early. Talk to your local election office to find out what early voting choices are open to you.
Voting early in Illinois
In Illinois, anyone who is registered and “qualified” to vote can cast their ballot early. You must find out which voting place will be open in your town or county if you want to cast your vote early.
The website for the Illinois State Board of Elections can help you find the best polling place. For people who haven’t signed up yet, the site can also show you where to do so.
The last day to register to vote in the state was October 8. If you forgot to register, you can do so in person at a “grace period registration site” until the day of the election.
Voting early in Indiana
People in Indiana can vote early in most places. Before election day, the state’s website lets people know where the voting places are and when they will be open. The voter should call the right office to find out when they can go there in person to cast their ticket.
Voting early in Louisiana
Starting seven to eighteen days before the election, you can vote early at certain places in each parish. To vote this year, some towns opened on October 18. On Sundays, you can’t cast a vote. On the state’s website, you can find out more.
Voting early in Maine
Anyone in Maine who is registered to vote can vote early by sending or picking up a blank ballot in person. Same-day registration means that people who aren’t already registered can sign up and vote on the same day, even during early voting times.
Voting early in Massachusetts
As of October 19, early voting had begun, and the state said that “every community will have at least one early voting site.” There is a tool on the Secretary of State’s website that can help you find that place.
Voting early in Minnesota
People who want to vote early must ask for an absentee ballot, which is easy to do in Minnesota and doesn’t require an explanation. Voters can ask for a vote online, and the state says they should do it quickly so the county election office has time to hand it out. You should find out where in your town or country you can vote early once you have your ballot.
At least one place in every county will be open Monday through Friday until Monday, November 4. The polling places usually let people vote between 8 am and 4:30 pm, but the hours change from place to place, so check before you go.
The state also says that stores have to be open until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, Saturday, November 2, and Sunday, November 3. These places will be open until 5 p.m. on November 4, the Monday before the election.
Voting early in New Mexico
For early voting, people in New Mexico must go to “their local County Clerk’s office or an early voting location prior to Election Day.” You can go to the state’s website to find the closest early bird.
Voting early in North Carolina
In North Carolina, early voting started on October 17, 2024, and ends on Saturday, November 2, at 3:00 p.m. You can use the Internet to look by county to find early voting sites near you.
Voting early in Ohio
On the website for Ohio’s Secretary of State, people can find out where they can “cast an early in-person ballot at their county board of elections.”
Voting early in Rhode Island
As of October 16, voters could go to their “city or town hall or at a designated location during regular business hours” to cast their vote early. Go to the state’s election website to see the full list of hours that polling places are open across the state.
Voting early in Tennessee
In Tennessee, you don’t need a reason to go vote early in person. “People who want to vote must appear in person at either the county election commission office or a satellite voting location opened by the county election commission,” the law says. The webpage for the state has a full list of all the offices.
Voting early in Virginia
Anyone who is registered to vote in Virginia can cast their ballots early at the offices of the general clerk or, in some cases, at satellite offices that are set up by each county. On its website, the Department of Elections keeps an up-to-date list of these alternative polling places.
