Early Voting Rules
Offsite Recommendation: Check out the Early Voting Calendar, 2010 from the folks at the Early Voting Information Center (EVIC) at Reed College. It shows the exact early voting dates for the November 2, 2010 General Election.
What 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 and the District of Columbia offer "no excuse" early voting - voters in these states do not need to provide a reason for voting before election day. A handful of states offer early voting only to voters who have 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 voting, one-stop voting or advance voting.
ALABAMA
No. In-person early voting is not allowed.
ALASKA
Yes! Alaska offers no-excuse early voting and no-excuse in-person absentee voting.
Early voting starts 15 days before an election and ends election day.
- Early voting takes place at a Regional Elections Office in the jurisdiction where the voter is registered. Regional offices are located in Juneau, Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks and Nome
- In-person absentee voting takes place at any Regional Elections Office or absentee voting location.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/vi_ea_ev_ip_about.php)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: AR Stat. Title 16, Chapter 4, Article 8)
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 during 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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.votenaturally.org/where_when_how_vote.html#4)
CALIFORNIA
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts 29 days before an election and ends election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
Source: CA Code 3015-3018)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: C.R.S. 1-8-202)
CONNECTICUT
No. In-person early voting is not allowed.
DELAWARE
Yes. Delaware doesn't have traditional early voting but they do offer in-person absentee voting. You can apply for and vote an in-person absentee ballot at your county Department of Elections as soon as absentee ballots are available up until noon on election day.
You'll need to sign an affidavit affirming that you are unable to vote in person at the polls for one of the following reasons:
- The nature of your work or schooling prevents you from going to your polling place.
- Your service to the United States or to the State of Delaware prevents you from going to your polling place. Spouses or dependents of the person in service also qualify. (Public service includes military, diplomatic, etc.)
- The tenets or teaching of your religion prevent you from going to your polling place on election day.
- You are on vacation on election day.
- You are sick.
- You are permanently or temporarily disabled.
- You are incarcerated (but not for a felony).
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Yes! District of Columbia offers no-excuse early voting.
Early voting starts 15 days before an election and ends at 4:45pm the day before election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: 3 DCMR § 718)
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.
IDENTIFICATION: Voters should bring photo identification that includes a signature. Besides a state-issued driver's license or ID card, other accepted forms include passports, debit or credit cards with photos, and identification for: members of the military, students, retirement centers, neighborhood associations or public assistance. If the photo ID does not contain the voter's signature, another piece of identification with a signature is required.
Contact your Local Election Official to find out if you can vote early in your area.
(Source: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voting/early.shtml)
GEORGIA
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting occurs Monday through Friday of the week prior to an election.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: OCGA 21-2-380(b))
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: HI Code 15-7)
IDAHO
Yes! You may vote early in person using your absentee ballot, no excuse required.
In-person absentee voting starts as soon as ballots are available and ends at 5 p.m. the Friday before the election.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.idahovotes.gov/VoterReg/ABSENTEE.HTM)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/19A-15)
INDIANA
Yes! You may vote absentee in person at your county elections office, no excuse required.
Early voting starts 29 days before an election and ends at noon the day before an election.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: I.C. § 3-11-10-26(c))
IOWA
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available and ends election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: IA Code Title 2, Chapter 53.10)
KANSAS
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts the Tuesday before an election and ends at noon the day before election day. In some counties early voting starts as early as 20 days before an election.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.kssos.org/elections/elections_registration_voting.html )
KENTUCKY
Yes! You may vote early in person using a voting machine, but you need a valid excuse.
To be eligible for in-person early voting, one of the following must be true:
- You will be out of the county on election day;
- You are Military, their Dependents, or an Overseas Citizen;
- You are Military personnel confined to base and learn of your confinement within seven days or less of an election;
- You are a Student who resides outside the county or a resident who temporarily resides outside of the state, and will not be in the county on Election Day;
- You are a voter or the spouse of a voter who has surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on Election Day;
- You are a pregnant woman in your third trimester.
OR you are one of the following:
- 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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://elect.ky.gov/voterinfo/Pages/absenteevoterinformation.aspx)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/168/Default.aspx)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: Maine Rev. Stat. Title 21A 9-753-B(8))
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: The Herald-Mail)
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 may vote early in-person if:
- you will be away from your city or town on election day
- you have a disability that prevents you from voting at the polls
- you cannot vote on election day due to religious beliefs
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howabs.htm)
MICHIGAN
No. In-person early voting is not allowed.
MINNESOTA
Yes, but you'll need to provide a valid excuse. (Note: Minnesota calls early voting "in-person absentee voting"). You may vote early if:
- you will be away from home on election day
- you are ill or disabled
- you are 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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=211)
MISSISSIPPI
Yes, you can vote your absentee ballot in-person at your local elections office in Mississippi, but you need to provide one of the following valid excuses to vote absentee:
- You are an enlisted or commissioned member of any component of the United States Armed Forces, or spouse or dependent of such member.
- You are a Member of the Merchant Marine or the American Red Cross, or spouse or dependent of such member.
- You are a disabled war veteran who is a patient in any hospital, or the spouse or dependent of such veteran.
- You are a civilian attached to and serving outside of the United States with any branch of the Armed Forces or with the Merchant Marine or American Red Cross, or spouse or dependent of such civilian. You are a citizen of Mississippi temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia.
- You are a student, teacher or administrator at a college, university, junior or community college, high, junior high, elementary or grade school, whose studies or employment at such institution necessitates your absence from the county of your voting residence or spouse or dependent of such student, teacher or administrator
- You will be outside the county on election day.
- You have a temporary or permanent physical disability.
- You are sixty-five (65) years of age or older.
- You are the parent, spouse or dependent of a person with a temporary or permanent physical disability who is hospitalized outside his county of residence or more than fifty (50) miles away from his residence, and you will be with such person on election day.
- You are a member of the congressional delegation, or spouse or dependent of a member of the congressional delegation.
- You are required to be at work on election day during the times which the polls will be open.
Contact your Local Election Official to find out when in-person absentee voting is available in your area.
(Source: http://www.vote411.org/bystateresult.php?state=MS)
MISSOURI
No. In-person early voting is not allowed.
MONTANA
Yes! You may vote early in person using an absentee ballot, no excuse required.
Early voting starts as soon as the official ballot becomes available, usually 30 days before an election. You can apply for, receive, and vote your absentee ballot at the same time.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: MCA 13-13-222)
NEBRASKA
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts 35 days before an election and ends election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/voter_info.html)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: NRS 293.3568)
NEW HAMPSHIRE
No. In-person early voting is not allowed.
NEW JERSEY
Sort of... There is no formal, state-wide in-person early voting system, but certain counties do 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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: NM Stat. 1-6-5.7 )
NEW YORK
Yes, but you'll need to provide a valid excuse. Valid excuses are the same as those for by-mail absentee voting. You may vote early if you are:
- unavoidably absent from your county on election day
- unable to appear at the polls due to illness or disability
- a patient in a Veterans’ Administration Hospital
- detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony
Early voting starts as soon as the ballots are available (at least 32 days before an election) and ends the day before election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://vote.nyc.ny.us/absentee.html#inperson, and an email from the State Board of Elections)
NORTH CAROLINA
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts the 3rd Thursday before an election and ends the Saturday before election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: NC Gen. Stat. 163-227.2)
NORTH DAKOTA
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts 15 days before an election and ends election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: ND Stat. 16.1-07-15)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/voterInformation/absentee.aspx)
OKLAHOMA
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting occurs from on the Friday and Monday before any election. Early voting also takes place on the Saturday before a state or federal election.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.ok.gov/elections/faqs.html#q621)
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, but you'll need to provide a valid excuse.
You may vote early in-person if fall into one of the following categories:
- a student away at college (or a spouse or dependent residing with the student)
- a member of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marines, Red Cross, USO, government employees, or a spouse or dependent residing with such a person
- a person with a job that prevents you from voting in person on election day
- physically disabled
- away on vacation on election day
- 65 or older
- confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
- attending sick or physically disabled persons
- on jury duty in state or federal court on election day
- 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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.scvotes.org/?q=south_carolina_voting_information_page)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: SD Law 12-19-2.1)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: TCA 2-6-102)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/earlyvote.shtml)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: UT Elec. Code 20A-3-601)
VERMONT
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts 45 days before a primary or general election - 20 days before a municipal election - and ends election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/absentee_overview.html )
VIRGINIA
Yes, but you'll need to provide a valid excuse.
Valid excuses are the same as those for by-mail absentee voting. The following people may vote early in-person:
- 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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Absentee_Voting/Index.html)
WASHINGTON
Elections are conducted by mail in 38 of 39 Washington Counties. Only disabled voters may vote early in-person in Washington.
This option is available on or up to 20 days before the election.
Each county has at least one Accessible Voting Unit (AVU) - aka, Disability Access Unit (DAU). In counties that vote by mail, the County Elections Department Office is a voting center. (You can also call 800-448-4881 or 800-422-8683 TDD/TTY to find your county's AVU.)
AVUs present your ballot on a monitor. You select choices by touching the screen, using a select wheel, or by using a tool. There are headphones available to listen to your ballot. AVU can also be fitted with sip-and-puff tools.
NOTE: If you receive your ballot in the mail, take it with you to the voting center. An election worker will show you how to use the AVU. Your county elections department may arrange time in advance for you to practice using the AVU.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/accessible-voting.html)
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.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://www.wvsos.com/elections/voters/absenteemethods.htm)
WISCONSIN
Yes! You may vote early in person using an absentee ballot, no excuse required.
Although they do not officially call it Early Voting, if you apply in-person at your municiapl clerk's office for an absentee ballot, you must vote the ballot immediately at the clerk's office, seal it, and return it to an authorized clerk.
The process starts as soon as ballots are available, usually 3 weeks before an election, and ends at 5 p.m. the day before election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/voters/absentee)
WYOMING
Yes! You may vote early in person, no excuse required.
Early voting starts 40 days before an election and ends election day.
Contact your Local Election Official to learn more about early voting in your area.
(Source: http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/AbsenteeVoting.aspx)
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