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Voting Before Election Day

In some states and under certain circumstances, you can vote before Election Day. Here's how it works:

Absentee and Mail-in Voting


To vote early, many people get a mail-in or absentee ballot. That’s a paper ballot listing all of the candidates and ballot measures that people will be voting on come Election Day.

The reason it's often called an "absentee" ballot is because it’s particularly helpful for people who will be away from home on Election Day. But many states allow everyone (or, in some cases, everyone over a certain age) to vote by mail. You might prefer it for a variety of reasons. You might think you’ll have difficulty getting to the polls on Election Day. Perhaps you're in frail health or have a disability. Absentee balloting ensures that you'll be able to cast your vote even if you can't make it to the polling place.

  • To find out if you can vote by mail, contact your local elections office. The number may be listed in the phone book in the section for your city, county or township — under board of elections or elections department clerk, registrar or auditor. You can also call directory assistance.

  • If you want to vote by mail, send a signed letter to your local elections office about 30 days before Election Day, saying you want an absentee ballot. When the ballot arrives in the mail, fill it out and mail it back. In some states, the return envelope for your absentee ballot needs to be signed by a witness, so read the directions carefully.

  • If you are overseas, it's wise to write your elections office about 45 days in advance, but not much earlier than that. If you write too early, the ballots may not be ready and your request could get lost in the interim.

  • In most states, for an absentee ballot to be counted it must be received by the end of Election Day. To be safe, mail it a few days before Election Day.

  • If you registered by mail, eight states require you to vote in person the first time you vote. They are Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. And in all states, if you registered by mail, you will have to show identification the first time you vote. Check with your elections office about acceptable types of ID.

Even if you're absolutely sure that you'll be able to vote on Election Day, you may have friends, neighbors or relatives who are afraid they won't be able to make it the polls. If so, encourage them to vote absentee and help them obtain an absentee ballot. Their votes could decide the election in favor of the candidates you support.

Early Voting

Another way that some states help people vote when they can't get to the polls on Election Day is through a new approach called “early voting."  It's different from a mail-in ballot because you have to cast your vote at a specific location. But it allows you to do it a couple of weeks early and beat Election Day lines. Usually the local government will set up specific times and places for early voting.

For details, check with your elections office.

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