Early Voting Rules

What is Early Voting?

As opposed to absentee (by-mail) voting, early voting takes place in person before Election Day at specially designated polling stations. Many states and the District of Columbia allow early voting, but they all have their own procedures and laws. Most states offer "no excuse early voting," which means any registered voter can vote early for any reason. In other states, however, voters must have a valid excuse (such as unavoidable absence from your county on Election Day) for voting early.

Below is a state-by-state list of current early voting laws and procedures.

ALABAMA

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

ALASKA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 15 days before an election and ends Election Day.

(Source: AK Stat. Sec. 15.20.064)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

ARIZONA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available, typically 33 days before an election, and ends Election Day.

(Source: AR Stat. Title 16, Chapter 4, Article 8)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

ARKANSAS

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Depending on the type of election being conducted, you may early vote during the 15 days before a primary or general election, and 7 days before a special election.

• In most counties, early voting is conducted at the county clerk’s office. In counties with off-site early voting (a location other than the county clerk’s office), local newspapers will publish the designated sites.
• During a preferential primary or a general election, early voting is available between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, ending at 5 p.m. on the Monday before the election. Off-site early voting hours may vary by county; watch your local newspaper or contact your county clerk for information.
• During all other elections, early voting is available during your county clerk’s regular office hours.
• If your name or address has changed, you may update your information at the early voting site.

(Source: http://www.votenaturally.org/where_when_how_vote.html#4)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

CALIFORNIA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required. But you must be a registered vote-by-mail voter and bring your vote-by-mail ballot to be surrendered at the elections office for a a regular ballot. If you cannot surrender your vote-by-mail ballot, you will vote a provisional ballot.

Early voting starts 29 days before an election and ends Election Day.

Source: CA Code 3015-3018)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

COLORADO

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 15 days before a general election and 10 days before a primary election, and ends Election Day.

(Source: C.R.S. 1-8-202)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

CONNECTICUT

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

DELAWARE

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Yes! You may vote early by casting your absentee ballot in person, but you need a valid excuse. 

Valid excuses are the same as those for absentee voting:

• you will be outside of the District of Columbia on Election Day;
• you will be hospitalized on Election Day;
• you have a physical handicap or disability;
• you have a temporary or permanent illness;
• you have been sequestered for jury duty;
• you are incarcerated, but NOT on a felony conviction;
• you are confined to an institution, but have not been judicially declared incompetent;
• you are a uniformed or overseas citizen; or
• you are a member of the Board of Elections

Early voting starts 15 days before an election and ends at 4:45pm the day before Election Day.

 (Source: 3 DCMR § 718)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

FLORIDA

Yes!  You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 15 days before an election and ends 2 days before Election Day.

(Source: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voting/early.shtml)

Contact your Local Election Official to find out if you can vote early in your area (offsite link).

GEORGIA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting occurs Monday through Friday of the week prior to an election.

(Source: OCGA 21-2-380(b))

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

HAWAII

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 10 business days before an election and ends the Saturday before an election.

(Source: HI Code 15-7)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

IDAHO

Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, no excuse required.

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available and ends at 5 p.m. the day before the election.

(Source: http://www.idahovotes.gov/VoterReg/ABSENTEE.HTM)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

ILLINOIS

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 22 days before an election and ends 5 days before an election.

(Source: 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/19A-15)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

INDIANA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 29 days before an election and ends at noon the day before an election.

(Source: I.C. § 3-11-10-26(c))

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

IOWA

Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, no excuse required.

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available and ends Election Day.

(Source: IA Code Title 2, Chapter 53.10)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

KANSAS

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts the Tuesday before, or (depending on your county) up to 20 days before, an election, and ends at noon the day before Election Day.

(Source: http://www.kssos.org/elections/elections_registration_voting.html )

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

KENTUCKY

Yes! You may vote early in person using a voting machine, but you need a valid excuse.

The following are eligible for in-person early voting:

• Individuals who will be out of the county on election day;
• Military personnel, their dependents, and overseas citizens;
• Military personnel confined to base who learn of it within seven days or less of an election;
• Students or residents who temporarily reside outside of the county;
• A voter who has surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on Election Day, and the voter’s spouse;
• A pregnant woman in your third trimester Election Officials (including: Precinct election officer appointed to serve in precinct other than his own,  Alternate precinct officer, County board of elections members, County board of elections staff, Deputy county clerk, State Board of Elections staff)

Early voting starts 12 (or more) working days before the election and ends on Election Day.

(Source: http://elect.ky.gov/registrationinfo/absenteeballot.htm)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

LOUISIANA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 14 days before an election and ends 7 days before an election.

(Source: http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/168/Default.aspx)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

MAINE

Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, no excuse required. Additionally, certain counties now offer early voting using standard ballots (check with your local election official to see if this applies to your county).

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available (usually 30-45 days before an election) and ends Election Day.

(Source: Maine Rev. Stat. Title 21A 9-753-B(8))

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

MARYLAND

Yes! Starting in 2010, you may vote early in person, no excuse required.

For 2010, early voting starts the 2nd Friday before the election and ends the Thursday before the election, but is not available on the Sunday that falls between them.

Starting in 2012, early voting starts the second Saturday before an election and ends the Thursday before an election, with the intermediate Sunday included.

(Source: The Herald-Mail)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

MASSACHUSETTS

Yes!...sort of. If you're a registered Massachusetts voter, you vote your absentee ballot in person at your local city or town hall, if you:

• will be absent from your city or town on election day, and/or
• have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place, and/or
• cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs.

To arrange to vote in person at your city or town hall, contact your local election official.

(Source: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howabs.htm)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

MICHIGAN

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

MINNESOTA

Yes! You may vote early in person, but you need a valid excuse.

Valid excuses are the same as those for by-mail absentee voting. You must be:

Early voting starts 30 days before an election and ends Election Day.

(Source: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=211)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

MISSISSIPPI

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

MISSOURI

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

MONTANA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 30 days before an election.

(Source: http://www.earlyvoting.net/states/abslaws.php)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

NEBRASKA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 35 days before an election and ends Election Day.

(Source: http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/voter_info.html)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting (offsite link).

NEVADA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts the 3rd Saturday before an election and ends the Friday before Election Day.

(Source: NRS 293.3568) 

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

NEW HAMPSHIRE

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

NEW JERSEY

Sort of... There is no formal, state-wide in-person early voting. However, certain counties allow it.

Contact your Local Election Official to find out if you can vote early in your area (offsite link).

NEW MEXICO

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts the 3rd Saturday before an election and ends the Saturday before Election Day.

(Source: NM Stat. 1-6-5.7 )

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

NEW YORK

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

NORTH CAROLINA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts the 3rd Thursday before an election and ends at either 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. (depending on your county) the Saturday before Election Day.

(Source: NC Gen. Stat. 163-227.2)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

NORTH DAKOTA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 15 days before an election and ends Election Day.

(Source: ND Stat. 16.1-07-15)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

OHIO

Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 35 days before an election and ends the day before Election Day.

(Source: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/voterInformation/absentee.aspx)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

OKLAHOMA

Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, no excuse required.

Early voting occurs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Friday and Monday before any election, and additionally from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Saturday before a state or federal election.

(Source: http://www.ok.gov/~elections/faq.html)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

OREGON

No. Not applicable - Oregon is by-mail voting only.

PENNSYLVANIA

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

RHODE ISLAND

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, but you need a valid excuse.

Valid excuses are the same as those for by-mail absentee voting. You must:

• be a student away at college (or a spouse or dependent residing with the student);
• be a member of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marines, Red Cross, USO, government employees, or a spouse or dependent residing with such a person;
• have a job that prevents you from voting in person on Election Day;
• be physically disabled;
• be away on vacation  on Election Day;
• be 65 or older;
• be confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial;
• be attending sick or physically disabled persons;
• be on jury duty in state or federal court on election day; or
• be a certified poll watchers or poll managers

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available and ends 5 p.m. the day before Election Day.

(Source: http://www.scvotes.org/?q=south_carolina_voting_information_page)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

SOUTH DAKOTA

Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, no excuse required.

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available and ends Election Day.

(Source: SD Law 12-19-2.1)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

TENNESSEE

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 20 days before an election and ends 5 days before Election Day.

(Source: TCA 2-6-102)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

TEXAS

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 17 days before most elections - 12 days before May uniform elections - and ends 4 days before Election Day.

(Source: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/earlyvote.shtml)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

UTAH

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 14 days before an election and ends 2 business days before Election Day.

(Source: UT Elec. Code 20A-3-601)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

VERMONT

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 30 days before a primary or general election, and 20 days before a municipal election, and ends Election Day.

(Source: http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/absentee_overview.html )

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

VIRGINIA

Yes! You may vote early in person, but you need a valid excuse.

Valid excuses are the same as those for by-mail absentee voting. They are:

• Any person who, in the regular and orderly course of his business, profession, or occupation or while on personal business or vacation, will be absent from the county or city in which he is entitled to vote;
• Any person who is (i) a member of a uniformed service of the United States, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff-6(7), on active duty, or (ii) a member of the merchant marine of the United States, or (iii) who temporarily resides outside of the United States, or (iv) the spouse or dependent residing with any person listed in (i), (ii), or (iii), and who will be absent on the day of the election from the county or city in which he is entitled to vote.  See Absentee Voting Procedures for Overseas Personnel (Military & Non-Military)
• Any student attending a school or institution of learning, or his spouse, who will be absent on the day of election from the county or city in which he is entitled to vote;
• Any person who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of election because of a physical disability or physical illness;
• Any person who is confined while awaiting trial or for having been convicted of a misdemeanor, provided that the trial or release date is scheduled on or after the third day preceding the election. Any person who is awaiting trial and is a resident of the county or city where he is confined shall, on his request, be taken to the polls to vote on election day if his trial date is postponed and he did not have an opportunity to vote absentee;
• Any person who is a member of an electoral board, registrar, officer of election, or custodian of voting equipment;
• Any duly registered person who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because he is primarily and personally responsible for the care of an ill or disabled family member who is confined at home; or
• Any duly registered person who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because of an obligation occasioned by his religion.
• Any person who, in the regular and orderly course of his business, profession, or occupation, will be at his place of work and commuting to and from his home to his place of work for eleven or more hours of the thirteen that the polls are open (6:00 AM to 7:00 PM).

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available - usually between 45 and 30 days before an election - and ends at 5 p.m. the Saturday before Election Day.

(Source: http://www.earlyvoting.net/states/abslaws.php)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

WASHINGTON

No. In-person early voting is not allowed.

WEST VIRGINIA

Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 20 days before an election and ends 3 days before Election Day.

(Source: http://www.wvsos.com/elections/voters/absenteemethods.htm)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

WISCONSIN

Yes! You may vote early by casting your absentee ballot in person at your Municipal Clerk's Office, no excuse required.

Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available, usually 3 weeks before an election, and ends at 5 p.m. the day before Election Day.

(Source: http://elections.state.wi.us/faq_detail.asp?faqid=120&fid=27&locid=47)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).

WYOMING

Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, no excuse required.

Early voting starts 40 days before an election and ends Election Day.

(Source: http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/AbsenteeVoting.aspx)

Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area (offsite link).