Early voting

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Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. Some states allow voters to cast absentee ballots in person. States that allow in-person absentee voting without an excuse are counted below among no-excuse early voting states.

To see the arguments for and against early voting , click here.

The most important step in voting is knowing where and when to vote. Ballotpedia is committed to making sure everyone who wants to vote, can vote. Check the list of states below to find the contact information for your state Election Commission or Secretary of State's office. This information can be used to find more information about signing up for early voting or finding your local polling place.

Click here to see a comprehensive list of states that allow early voting.

Click here to find the contact information for your state election commission or secretary of state.

Click here for a list of upcoming election dates.

Click here for a list of frequently asked questions and answers.

Early voting by state

As of Februrary 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting in some form:^[1]

States with all-mail voting

See also: All-mail voting

Eight states – California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington – conduct what are commonly referred to as all-mail elections. In these states, voting is conducted primarily, although not necessarily exclusively, by mail. These states allow for in-person early voting by default (generally by allowing voters to return their mail-in ballots in person at municipal-level offices or vote centers).

Frequently asked questions

• What is early voting?
  Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. Some states allow voters to cast absentee ballots in person. States that allow in-person absentee voting without an excuse are counted below among no-excuse early voting states.

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• What will be on my ballot?
  While every state's ballot is different, Ballotpedia has created a tool that will accurately reflect what candidates and questions will appear on your ballot.

  Click here to check out our Sample Ballot Lookup tool.

• Who will be on my ballot?
  Ballotpedia has created a tool that will accurately reflect what candidates and questions will appear on your ballot.

  Click here to check out our Sample Ballot Lookup tool.

• How to I sign up to vote early?
  To sign up for early voting, contact your state election office. Click here to find your state's election office contact information.

• Where do I turn in my early voting ballot?
  Once you have received your ballot you can vote by mail by following the instructions provided on the ballot you received. In some states you can choose to drop off your ballot at a secure drop off location, instead of mailing the ballot.

  Click here to find your state's election office contact information and contact them directly for specific instructions related to your state's early voting procedures.

• Who do I contact if I have questions about early voting?
  Click here to find your state's election office contact information and contact them directly for any questions related to early voting.

• Where do I find more information about the various ballot initiatives on the ballot?
  Ballotpedia provides coverage of major ballot initiatives along with developments in election policy at the federal, state, and local levels in various newsletters and news articles. Click here to read Ballotpedia's most recent articles on ballot measures that will be voted on in 2020. Click here to sign up for Ballotpedia's Ballot Bullet Newsletter for information on election policy.

Support and opposition

The following quotes briefly summarize arguments for and against early voting. See our page, Arguments for and against early voting, for detailed support and opposition arguments from a variety of sources.

Upcoming election dates

Note: An election date on the above list may have been scheduled initially but later canceled due to a lack of candidates or a lack of races advancing to a runoff, if applicable.

Early voting legislation

The table below lists bills related to early voting registration introduced during, or carried over to each state's regular legislative session this year. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. The table displays up to 100 results by default. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Noteworthy events

This section summarizes noteworthy events related to early voting.

Delaware (2024)

On June 28, 2024, the Delaware Supreme Court struck down a ruling from the Delaware Superior Court and reinstated early voting in the state. In a 5-0 decision, the court ruled that plaintiffs failed to prove that they would be harmed by laws permitting early voting, and therefore had no standing to sue. Consequently, the decision did not rule on the lower court's determination that early voting was prohibited by the Delaware Constitution.^[5] The court agreed to hear the case on an expedited basis to provide clarity to voters and election administrators before the November election.^[6]

In a statement, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings (D) said, "I’m grateful to the Court for its ruling and for agreeing to hear this case on an expedited basis so that Delawareans know their rights going into the September and November elections."^[6] In response to the ruling, Delaware House of Representatives Minority Whip Lyndon Yearick (R) said, "This is frustrating because the constitutionality issue was our sole concern. We support early voting."^[7] The plaintiffs attorney, M. Jane Brady, a former Superior Court judge and former chair of the Delaware Republican Party, said that plaintiffs would continue to challenge the constitutionality of early voting in the state.^[6]

Earlier in the year, on February 23, Superior Court Judge Mark Conner ruled that early voting was unconstitutional in the state, saying that the laws were "inconsistent with our constitution and therefore cannot stand."^[8][9] Article V, Section 1 of the Delaware Constitution says, "The general election shall be held biennially on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November." Judge Conner wrote, "Any enactment of the General Assembly that provides for casting ballots on other days than that day enumerated by Article V, Section 1, unless permitted elsewhere Article V, runs afoul of and is inconsistent with the Constitution."^[10]

On February 27, Attorney General Jennings announced that she would appeal the decision to the Delaware Supreme Court and said, "We will file our appeal quickly and intend to request a decision from the Delaware Supreme Court so that voters have final clarity in time for the September primaries."^[11] On February 29, lawmakers introduced legislation, SB3, to amend the state's constitution and restore in-person early voting.

Lawmakers originally established early in-person voting by passing HB38 in 2019. Delaware Governor John Carney (D) signed HB38 on June 30, 2019, which established in-person early voting beginning January 1, 2022. The law allowed voters to vote "in-person during at least 10 days before an election, up to and including the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the election at locations determined by the State Election Commissioner."^[12][13] According to Senate Bill 149, which was signed into law on July 21, 2023, Sundays did not have to be included in the early voting period for presidential preference primaries.^[14]

Iowa (2018)

On August 10, 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled on several provisions of HF 516, which called for shortening the state's early voting period from 40 to 29 days along with other provisions related to voting, including voter ID requirements. Concerning the early voting period, the court lifted an injunction put in place by a district court. The court did not provide their reasoning in the order.^[15]

On May 30, 2018, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Iowa and Taylor Blair, a student at Iowa State University, filed suit in the Iowa District Court for Polk County against Secretary of State Paul Pate (R) alleging that HF 516 illegally impaired the ability of Iowans to vote.

On July 24, 2018, the district court granted the plaintiffs' request for temporary injunctions against several parts of HF 516, including the provision shortening the early voting period, saying that provision would cause irreparable harm to those unable to vote in the 29-day period. The case proceeded to the Iowa Supreme Court, which lifted the injunction.^[16]

Florida (2018)

On July 24, 2018, a federal judge barred enforcement of a Florida rule, established by Secretary of State Ken Detzner in 2014, prohibiting the use of college campus sites as early voting locations. The rule stated that educational facilities did not meet state law definitions for early voting sites.^[17]

Judge Mark E. Walker of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida wrote the following in his order: "Simply put, Defendant's Opinion [i.e., Florida's rule barring early voting on college campuses] reveals a stark pattern of discrimination. It is unexplainable on grounds other than age because it bears so heavily on younger voters than all other voters. ... The Opinion is intentionally and facially discriminatory." Walker barred the secretary of state from enforcing the 2014 rule, though he did not order election officials to designate early voting sites on college campuses, leaving such action to the discretion of local officials.^[17][18]

Ohio (2014-2016)

On August 23, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld an Ohio law reducing the state's early voting period from 35 days to 29 days.^[19]

On February 21, 2014, Governor John Kasich signed into law two bills that altered the state's early and absentee voting provisions. Senate Bill 238 shortened the early voting period by a week, thereby eliminating "Golden Week," a period during which state residents could register and vote on the same day. Senate Bill 205 established a requirement that the secretary of state obtain funding approval from the legislature before mailing absentee ballot applications statewide.^[20]

The NAACP and other groups filed a lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of Senate Bill 238. A federal district court placed an injunction on SB 238's provisions, then the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to stay the injunction, putting the law into effect. On April 17, 2015, the parties involved agreed to a settlement. The terms of the settlement included the restoration of one day of voting on Sunday, additional weekday evening voting hours, and the elimination of "Golden Week."^[21]

The Ohio Democratic Party, along with two local parties and three individuals, challenged the version of the law that was revised based on the 2015 settlement. A district court issued an injunction barring implementation of the law on May 24, 2016, ruling that the law created a disparate burden on African-American voters. The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed the ruling on August 23, 2016, ruling that the change to 29 days of early voting remained generous and that it did not violate the Voting Rights Act.^[19]

North Carolina (2013-2016)

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down several provisions of a North Carolina law, including a provision shortening the state's early voting period, on July 29, 2016.^[22]

On July 25, 2013, the North Carolina Legislature passed a law with several provisions related to voting, including voter ID requirements and shortening the early voting period from 17 days to 10 days. Governor Pat McCrory (R) signed the bill into law on August 12, 2013. A number of lawsuits opposing the law were filed, and the cases were consolidated in a case brought before the District Court of the Middle District of North Carolina. The suits alleged that the law discriminated against minority groups. North Carolina was the first state to approve new voting laws after the United States Supreme Court struck down portions of the federal Voting Rights Act in June 2013.^[23][24]

The district court upheld the provisions of the law, ruling that the provisions did not place a discriminatory burden on African Americans and that the state had other reasons beyond discriminatory intent for imposing the provisions.^[25] The plaintiffs in the case appealed.

On July 29, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down the shortened early voting period and the state's photo ID requirement along with other provisions, ruling that the state legislature had enacted them with racially discriminatory intent. On May 15, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear the state's appeal, letting the Fourth Circuit's decision stand.^[22]

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The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Recent issues

Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.

• The Ballot Bulletin: July 19, 2024
• The Ballot Bulletin: July 12, 2024
• The Ballot Bulletin: June 28, 2024
• The Ballot Bulletin: June 21, 2024
• The Ballot Bulletin: June 14, 2024

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See also

• Elections and events calendar
• Absentee voting

External links

• National Conference of State Legislatures, Voting Outside the Polling Place: Absentee, All-Mail and Other Voting at Home Options
• The Washington Times, Eight reasons for halting early voting
• Brennan Center for Justice, Early Voting: What Works

Footnotes

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