Early Voting Rules
PrintWhat is Early Voting?
Early voting takes place in person before Election Day at election offices and - in some states - other satellite locations. Thirty two states offer "no excuse" early voting, which means they'll let any registered voter cast an in-person ballot before election day. A handful of states permit early voting only if the voter has a valid excuse for being unable to vote in person on Election Day.
Early voting is sometimes called early in-person voting, in-person absentee, one-stop voting or advance voting.
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.
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.
ARKANSAS
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting takes place during the 15 days before a primary or general election, and the 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.
CALIFORNIA
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
IDAHO
Yes! You may vote early in person, 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.
ILLINOIS
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
There are two ways to vote early in Illinois:
- You may vote "absentee in-person" at your County Clerk's office beginning 40 days prior to an election until the day before the election.
- If you are unable to go to your County Clerk's office to vote absentee in-person, you may vote early at locations spread thoughout the county. Early voting begins 22 days prior to the election through 4 days prior to the election.
(Source: 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/19A-15)
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
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.
IOWA
Yes! You may vote early in person, 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.
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.
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.
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.
MAINE
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
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.
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.
MASSACHUSETTS
Yes, but you'll need to provide a valid excuse. Early voting starts as soon as printed absentee ballots are available. You can apply for and vote your absentee ballot during the same visit to your Local Election Official. You can vote early if
- you will be away from his city or town on Election Day
- you have a disability that prevents you from voting at the polls
- or cannot vote on Election Day due to religious beliefs.
(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.
MICHIGAN
No. In-person early voting is not allowed.
MINNESOTA
Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot (they refer to it as "in-person absentee voting"), but you need a valid excuse. Valid excuses are the same as those for by-mail absentee voting. You must be:
- away from home on Election Day;
- ill or disabled;
- an election judge serving in a precinct other than your own;
- unable to go to the polling place due to a religious observance or belief
Early voting starts 46 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.
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 using your absentee ballot, no excuse required.
Early voting starts as soon as the official ballot becomes available, usually 30 days before an election.
(Source: MCA 13-13-222)
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
OHIO
Yes! You may vote early in person, 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.
OKLAHOMA
Yes! You may vote early in person, 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/faqs.html#q621)
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
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.
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.
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.
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.
UTAH
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts 14 days before an election and ends the Friday (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.
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.
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.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Absentee_Voting/Index.html)
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
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.
WISCONSIN
Yes! You may vote early in person, 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.
WYOMING
Yes! You may vote early in person, 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.
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