Finding Out if your State Allows Early Voting
Check that you live in a state that allows early voting. Early voting is a process that allows a voter to cast their ballot in a given election before Election Day. Some states actually call the process “early voting,” while others use “in-person absentee voting,” meaning that you cast an absentee ballot by physically showing up at a designated location. Most states allow some form of early voting. Find out your state's early voting rules and dates at https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/. Note that while some states don't technically have early voting, they may allow certain people to vote absentee in-person before the election. In Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Hawaii, Nevada, and California, all elections are conducted by mail. In Vermont, general elections are also all conducted by mail. The state mails all registered voters a ballot for each election, rendering in-person early voting and absentee voting procedures less relevant. Voters in these states who need to vote in-person in advance of election day may still be able to do so and should contact their local election office for more information.
Determine your state’s rules and eligibility for absentee voting. Absentee voting also allows voters to cast a ballot before Election Day, but involves mailing a ballot instead of voting in person. Absentee voting was originally designed only to serve voters who would actually be absent from their precincts on Election Day, but has gradually expanded in many states to cover a variety of circumstances. If your state does not allow early voting, it may allow absentee voting with or without an excuse. Because this method of voting allows the voter to cast a ballot before election day, it can be considered a type of early voting, but they are typically distinguished from one another. Additionally, a few states technically don't offer early voting but allow for in-person absentee voting if you meet certain criteria. You can see what your state’s rules are by going to https://www.vote.org/absentee-voting-rules/.
Contact your local election office to learn more about early voting in your area. Even if your state allows early voting, some decisions about early voting may be made at the county level. It's best to confirm the details about when and where you can vote early with your local election office. You can find the contact information for your local election office at https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/. Delays in implementing early voting, unreasonably short hours for early voting, and very few locations for early voting have all been used in the past as tactics to suppress the vote. If you suspect this is happening in your area, you should contact your state attorney general’s office or the US Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section. You can file a complaint with the Department of Justice at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php. A directory of state attorneys general is located at http://www.naag.org/naag/attorneys-general/whos-my-ag.php.
Making Sure you are Eligible to Vote Early
Register to vote. If you aren’t already registered to vote, you’re going to need to register in order to vote early. You can register online, in person, or by mail. In most states, you’re going to need to register at least 15-30 days before the election in which you intend to cast a ballot, although some states allow you to register through Election Day. You can see a list of deadlines at https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/. To be eligible to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18-years-old by Election Day, and meet your state's residency requirements. Find specific information for your state at https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-rules/. Luckily, registering to vote is easier than ever. If you would like to register, simply go to https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/. Even if ID is required to vote, it is typically not required to register.
Obtain proof of your identity and residence. As of 2020, at least 36 states have some type of Voter ID law in effect. That means that you may be required or requested to show ID at the polls in order to cast your ballot. In addition, you may need to have an ID showing that you reside at the same address that is on your voter registration form. Check your state’s rules at https://www.vote.org/voter-id-laws/. Your state may have different ID requirements if you are voting in person, voting absentee, or voting for the first time. Ironically, although a voter registration card provides a record of your registration, voter registration cards are usually insufficient for the purposes of ID. In a few states, it may be accepted as a form of identification or proof of residence, but in general, it is not necessary to bring it with you to cast a ballot.
Make sure that you are within the early voting period. Most states require voters to register at least 15-30 days before the election, and in addition to voter registration deadlines, many states that allow early voting only allow early voting on certain days or during a certain window leading up to the election. Check your state’s early voting dates at https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/. Keep in mind that your county may offer additional early voting options like Saturday or Sunday voting, so be sure to check with your local election office for details.
Voting Early in Person
Determine where your early voting location is. Your early voting location may not be the same as where you would vote on election day. Early voting may be offered at one location or multiple locations, and it may be available at different locations on different days. Find the contact information for your local election office at https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/ to learn about early voting locations in your area. In some states, your early voting location will be on your voter registration card.
Go to your early voting location within the listed times on the listed days. Many states will have statewide rules for the times of day early voting can take place. Other states will allow the county boards of elections to determine what times of day to hold early voting. You can find out what your state does at http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/early-voting-in-state-elections.aspx. If you live in a state that requires voters to show ID to cast a ballot, remember to bring identification with you. Check your state’s rules at https://www.vote.org/voter-id-laws/.
Cast your ballot. Your state may offer early voting using paper ballots or electronic voting machines. Either way, the poll workers can give you assistance should you need any. Fill out the ballot and follow the instructions from poll workers or the prompts on the electronic voting machine to submit your ballot.
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