Ahead of the November 3 elections, Democracy Works is committed to building voter confidence. Through our tools and partnerships, we’re ensuring voters have the information they need to understand the process and make a plan to vote. Today, we’re breaking down options to vote early and why early voting matters.
Election Day is the deadline to cast a ballot, but elections are more than just a single day of voting. Three weeks out from November 3, Americans are already participating in the general election. Early voting, the period when voters can cast a ballot before Election Day, has begun in 15 states. The midterms aren’t “coming soon”—they’re already here.
To participate with confidence, voters need to understand their options for casting a ballot. This year, 97 percent of eligible voters are guaranteed to have at least one option to vote early. All states except Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire offer some form of early in-person voting with no excuse required.
Alongside our partners, Democracy Works is committed to uplifting multiple avenues for voter participation. Our tools connect eligible voters with the voting methods available to them, including options to vote before Election Day, helping to remove barriers and make participation more convenient.
What Forms of Early Voting Are Available?
Early voting is available to most voters, but options to cast a ballot before Election Day—and the timing to do so—vary widely by jurisdiction. Types of early voting include:
- In-person early voting: Voters may cast their ballot at a designated early voting location, often their local election office or another public building.
- In-person absentee voting: Voters may request and immediately complete an absentee ballot in person at their local election office or another designated location. For voters, this experience is akin to requesting and completing a mail ballot successively in person.
- By-mail voting: Voters may request a ballot, fill it out, and return it through the mail or at a designated drop-off location.
- All-mail elections: All active registered voters are mailed a ballot and may return it before the specified deadline.
When voters consider early voting options, other factors may expand or limit their choices, depending on where they live. For instance, 13 states require an acceptable excuse to vote by mail. Conversely, some states require early voting locations to be open after normal business hours or on weekends, extending the voting window beyond typical Election Day hours.
When multiple voting methods are available, no option is inherently better than another. More than 85 million Americans voted early during the 2024 presidential election, underscoring the widespread popularity of by-mail and in-person early voting. Early voting is secure, accessible, and common.
Why is Early Voting Important?
Early voting can benefit voters and election officials alike. For voters, early voting offers more flexibility and makes it easier to participate in elections at a convenient time—particularly if work obligations or an unexpected event prevent someone from voting on Election Day. The availability of early voting options may decrease the time and effort required to vote, reducing the personal cost of casting a ballot.
For election officials, early voting can help elections run more smoothly. Mail and in-person early voting provide an alternative to long lines on Election Day, potentially easing logistical challenges at voting locations. Although early in-person voting creates an added expense for taxpayers due to additional staffing and equipment needs, higher levels of mail voting can help lower those costs for the opposite reason.
Helping Americans Vote Early This Year
Ahead of Election Day, Democracy Works is leveraging our tools and partnerships to help Americans understand their options for voting early. Because US election administration is decentralized, it’s essential to connect voters with early voting information specific to their state and local community.
TurboVote, our voter engagement tool, equips users with a personalized list of their voting locations right inside the platform (like this example for a demo user in Ohio). This gives voters an easy way to view their options for casting a ballot in person or by mail, get directions, and confidently participate.
On October 24, Democracy Works will also celebrate Vote Early Day, a nonpartisan civic holiday that builds awareness and inspires action to vote early. The holiday is driven by nonprofits, election administrators, businesses, and influencers, bringing together a broad coalition of stakeholders who support early voting.
Ready to make your plan to vote early? You can find your options at TurboVote.org. Enter your address to view key dates and find your voting location—and remember to help your friends and family do the same.
By supporting our work, you can help voters across the country access the information they need to vote early. Election Day is 22 days away, but the midterms are happening now.
