WASHINGTON — As America inches closer to Election Day, many states across the country are kicking off early voting.
Georgia’s registered voters have been turning out in record numbers since early voting began Tuesday. Nearly 460,000 had voted in-person or cast absentee ballots by Wednesday afternoon, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said.
Among those voters was former President Jimmy Carter, who cast his ballot by mail Wednesday at 100 years old.
For the upcoming election, 47 states and the District of Columbia offer early voting options, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Only three states — Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire — do not offer early in-person voting. However, some of these states may still have alternative options for eligible absentee voters.
The COVID-19 pandemic helped widen early voting efforts during the 2020 presidential election, resulting in nearly 70% of ballots being cast before Election Day.
Here's a look at early voting across the U.S, according to the NCSL. Early voting periods for local or primary elections may be different.
Be sure to double check with your state and local election resources when putting together your plan to vote.
When does early voting begin? A state-by-state breakdown
Alabama
Early Voting: Not offered
Alaska
Early Voting Begins: Fifteen days before election
Early Voting Ends: Day of election
Locations: Elections supervisors’ offices; other locations as designated by the election director
Hours and Days:
- Normal business hours on weekdays
- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Saturday before an election
- 12 p.m.-4 p.m. on the Sunday before an election
Statutes: AS §15.20.064, AS §15.20.045
Arizona
Early Voting Begins: Twenty-seven days before election
Early Voting Ends: Friday before election
Locations: Recorder’s office; any other locations in the county deemed necessary by the recorder
Hours and Days:
- Not specified
Statutes: ARS §16-541, ARS §16-542
Arkansas
Early Voting Begins: Fifteen days before election
Early Voting Ends: 5 p.m. on the Monday before election
Locations: Offices of the county clerk; other locations as determined by the county board of election commissioners
Hours and Days:
- 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays
- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Saturday before the election
- Until 5 p.m. on the Monday before the election
Statutes: AR Code §7-5-418
California
Early Voting Begins: Twenty-nine days before election (Note: California conducts elections primarily by mail)
Early Voting Ends: Day of election
Locations: County election officials’ offices; satellite locations as determined by county election officials
Hours and Days:
- Varies from county to county
Statutes: Elec. Code § 3000.5, Elec. Code §3001, Elec. Code §3018
Colorado
Early Voting Begins: Voter service and polling centers must be open 15 days before an election (Note: Colorado conducts elections primarily by mail)
Early Voting Ends: Day of election
Locations:
- Determined by county election officials
Hours and Days:
- Every day but Sunday during the early voting period
- Normal business hours (but may be expanded by county board of commissioners)
Statutes: C.R.S. §1-5-102
Connecticut
Early Voting Begins: Fifteen days before election
Early Voting Ends: Two days before election
Locations: Registrar of voters shall designate locations
Hours and Days:
- 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on the Tuesday and Thursday before the election
Statutes: CT Public Act No. 23-5
Delaware
Early Voting Begins: Ten days before an election
Early Voting Ends: Sunday before election
Locations: Determined by State Election Commissioner at least 30 days before an election
Hours and Days:
- Early voting locations must be open for 8 hours each day
- Locations are to open at 7 a.m. for at least 5 days in the early voting period
- Locations are required to be open until 7 p.m.
Statutes: Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 5402, §5403, §5404
District of Columbia
Early Voting Begins: Twelve days before election (Note: D.C. conducts elections primarily by mail)
Early Voting Ends: Saturday before election
Locations: No fewer than eight early voting centers, with at least one in a central location within each election ward
Hours and Days:
- 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. (Sunday excluded)
Statutes: DC ST § 1-1001.09
Florida
Early Voting Begins: Ten days before election (May be offered 11-15 days before an election that contains state and federal races at the discretion of the elections supervisor)
Early Voting Ends: Three days before election (May end two days before an election that contains state and federal races at the discretion of the elections supervisor)
Locations: Main or branch offices of elections supervisors; other sites designated by the elections supervisor
Hours and Days:
- No less than eight or more than 12 hours per day
- Election supervisors may choose to provide additional days of early voting, including weekends
Statutes: Fla. Stat. §101.657
Georgia
Early Voting Begins: Fourth Monday prior to a primary or election; as soon as possible prior to a runoff
Early Voting Ends: Friday immediately prior to a primary, election or runoff
Locations: Board of registrars’ offices; other sites as designated by boards of registrars
Hours and Days:
- Normal business hours on weekdays
- 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the second Saturday prior to the primary or election
- Election officials may provide for early voting beyond regular business hours
Statutes: GA ST § 21-2-385
Hawaii
Early Voting Begins: Ten business days prior to Election Day (Note: Hawaii conducts elections primarily by mail)
Early Voting Ends: 7 p.m. on Election Day
Locations: Voter Service Centers
Hours and Days:
- Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Statutes: HRS § 11-131, HRS § 11-109
Idaho
Early Voting Begins: Third Monday before election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: 5 p.m., Friday before election
Locations: Determined by county clerk
Hours and Days:
- Not specified
Statutes: ID Code §34-1006, ID Code §34-1002
Illinois
Early Voting Begins: 40th day before election for temporary polling locations and 15th day before election for permanent locations
Early Voting Ends: End of the day before Election Day
Locations:
An election authority may establish permanent and temporary polling places for early voting at locations throughout the election authority’s jurisdiction, including but not limited to:
- Municipal clerk’s office
- Township clerk’s office
- Road district clerk’s office
- County or local public agency office
- Early voting locations at public universities
Hours and Days:
- Permanent early voting locations must remain open from the 15th day before an election during business hours
- Beginning eight days before an election, they must remain open 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. or 9 a.m. -7 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m.-Noon on Saturdays and holidays, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sundays.
- Permanent early voting locations must stay open at least eight hours on any holiday and a total of at least 14 hours on the final weekend during the early voting period.
- Election authorities may decide the days and hours for temporary early voting locations, beginning the fortieth day before an election.
Statutes: 10 ILCS 5/19A-15, 10 ILCS 5/19A-20
Indiana
Early Voting Begins: Twenty-eight days before election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: Noon, day before election
Locations: Office of circuit court clerk; satellite offices may be established by resolution
Hours and Days:
- Seven hours on each of the two Saturdays preceding Election Day
- In counties with fewer than 20,000 voters, this can be reduced to four hours
Statutes: Ind. Code §3-11-4-1, Ind. Code 3-11-10-26
Iowa
Early Voting Begins: Twenty days before election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: 5 p.m., day before election
Locations: Commissioners’ offices; satellite locations may be established
Hours and Days:
- Satellite location must be open at least one day for a minimum of six hours
Statutes: IA Code §53.10, IA Code §53.11(b)
Kansas
Early Voting Begins: Twenty days before election or Tuesday before election (varies by county)
Early Voting Ends: Noon, day before election
Locations: Offices of county election officers; satellite locations may be designated
Hours and Days:
- Not specified
Statutes: KSA §25-1119, KSA §25-1122a, KSA §25-1123
Kentucky
Early Voting Begins: Thursday before election
Early Voting Ends: Saturday before election
Locations: Offices of county clerks or other designated locations
Hours and Days:
- Eight hours between 6 a.m.-8 p.m. on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday preceding the election
Statutes: KY ST § 117.076
Louisiana
Early Voting Begins: Fourteen days before election
Early Voting Ends: Seven days before election
Locations: Registrars’ offices; alternate locations may be provided in public buildings
Hours and Days:
- 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday (holidays excluded)
Statutes: LA R.S. 18:1303, LA R.S. 18:1309
Maine
Early Voting Begins: Not offered; early in-person absentee voting available as absentee ballots are ready — typically 30-45 days before election
Early Voting Ends: Three business days before election, unless the voter has an acceptable excuse.
Locations: Municipal clerks’ offices
Hours and Days:
- During regular business hours on days when clerks’ offices are open.
Statutes: ME ST T. 21-A §753-B(8), ME ST T. 21-A §753-B(2)
Maryland
Early Voting Begins: Second Thursday before election
Early Voting Ends: Thursday before election
Locations: Established by the State Board of Elections
Hours and Days:
- 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Statutes: MD Code, Election Law §10-301.1
Massachusetts
Early Voting Begins: Seventeenth day before election
Early Voting Ends: Four days before an election
Locations:
- Early voting sites, which includes the local election office.
- Additional locations may be provided at the discretion of the city or town registrar.
Hours and Days:
- Regular business hours and on weekends; hours vary by size of jurisdiction.
- City or town clerks may provide additional hours at their discretion.
Statutes: M.G.L.A. 54 §25B
Michigan
Early Voting Begins: Nine days before an election
Early Voting Ends: Sunday before an election
Locations: Early voting sites may serve more than six precincts and may serve voters from more than one municipality.
Hours and Days:
- During regular business hours and for at least eight hours during the Saturday and Sunday immediately prior to the election.
- Local election officials have the authority to make in-person absentee voting available for additional times and places beyond what is required.
Statutes: MI ST §168.761, MI ST §168.764b
Minnesota
Early Voting Begins: Forty-six days before election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: 5 p.m. day before election
Locations: Elections offices or any other location designated by county auditor.
Hours and Days:
- Monday through Friday regular business hours.
- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday before election; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the day before Election Day.
Statutes: MN ST §203B.081, MN ST §203B.085
Mississippi
Early Voting: Not offered
Missouri
Early Voting Begins: The second Tuesday before an election (in-person absentee).
Early Voting Ends: Not specified.
Locations: Locations designated by the election authority.
Hours and Days:
- Not specified
Statutes: MO ST §115.277
Montana
Early Voting Begins: Thirty days before election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: Day before election
Locations: Elections offices
Hours and Days:
- Not specified
Statutes: M.C.A. §13-13-205
Nebraska
Early Voting Begins: Thirty days before each election
Early Voting Ends: Election Day
Locations: County clerk or election commissioners’ offices
Hours and Days:
- Not specified
Statutes: NE ST § 32-808, NE ST §32-938, NE ST 32-942
Nevada
Early Voting Begins: Third Saturday preceding election Note: Nevada conducts elections primarily by mail.
Early Voting Ends: Friday before election
Locations: Permanent places for early voting as designated by county clerk; Branch polling places for early voting as designated by county clerk.
Hours and Days:
- Monday through Friday for at least eight hours a day, Saturdays for at least four hours, with optional Sunday hours.
Statutes: N.R.S. §293.356, N.R.S. 293.3564, N.R.S. 293.3568
New Hampshire:
Early Voting: Not offered
New Jersey
Early Voting Begins: Ten days before the election; in-person absentee voting begins forty-five days before the election
Early Voting Ends: Sunday before election
Locations: Each county board of elections shall designate at least three, but not more than five public locations within each county
Hours and Days:
- Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Statutes: NJ ST 19:15A-1
New Mexico
Early Voting Begins: Twenty-eight days before an election at a clerk's office; on the third Saturday before an election for alternate locations
Early Voting Ends: Saturday before election
Locations: Clerks’ offices and additional locations based on voter population
Hours and Days:
- Set by the clerk, must begin no earlier than 7 a.m. and end no later than 9 p.m.
- Each alternate location must be open for at least eight consecutive hours on each day of early voting.
Statutes: N. M. S. A. 1978, § 1-6-5.7
New York
Early Voting Begins: Tenth day before election
Early Voting Ends: Second day before an election
Locations: At least one early voting location for every full increment of 50,000 registered voters in each county, but not more than seven are required
Hours and Days:
- Open for at least eight hours between 7 a.m.-8 p.m. each weekday.
- At least one site open until 8 p.m. on at least two weekdays
- Five hours between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on each Saturday, Sunday, and legal holiday.
Statutes: NY ELEC § 8-600
North Carolina
Early Voting Begins: Third Thursday before election
Early Voting Ends: 3 p.m. on the last Saturday before election
Locations: Office of county board of elections; additional locations at county board's discretion
Hours and Days:
- Monday through Friday during regular business hours; weekend voting optional with uniform hours
Statutes: N.C.G.S.A. §163-227.2
North Dakota
Early Voting Begins: Fifteen days before election
Early Voting Ends: Day before election
Locations: At the discretion of county auditor
Hours and Days:
- Chosen and published by the county auditor
Statutes: NDCC §16.1-07-15
Ohio
Early Voting Begins: Twenty-nine days before election
Early Voting Ends: 2 p.m. Monday before election
Locations: Main office of board of elections; branch office under certain conditions
Hours and Days:
- 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; extended evening hours in the week prior to the election
- 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday
- 1-5 p.m. on the Sunday before Election Day.
Statutes: O.R.C. § 3509.051, O.R.C. § 3509.01
Oklahoma
Early Voting Begins: Wednesday preceding an election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: 2 p.m. on the Saturday before election
Locations: At a location designated by the county election board
Hours and Days:
- 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday
Statutes: OK ST T. 26 § 14-115.4
Oregon
Early Voting Begins: Drop sites must open the Friday before an election, but may open as soon as ballots are available (18 days before)
Early Voting Ends: Day of election
Locations: Election offices or other staffed locations (libraries, city halls, etc.) or outdoor mailboxes
Hours and Days:
- Normal business hours
Statutes: OR ST §254.470
Pennsylvania
Early Voting Begins: Counties will begin preparing in-person mail/absentee ballots after the official candidate list is certified, no earlier than 50 days before the election
Early Voting Ends: 5 p.m. first Tuesday prior to day of election
Locations: Local board of elections
Hours and Days:
- During regular business hours
Statutes: 25 P.S. § 3146.2a
Rhode Island
Early Voting Begins: Twenty days before election
Early Voting Ends: Day before election
Locations: At local boards of canvassers
Hours and Days:
- During regular business hours
Statutes: RI ST §17-20-2.2
South Carolina
Early Voting Begins: Two weeks before Election Day
Early Voting Ends: Day before election
Locations: At early voting centers
Hours and Days:
- 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for statewide general elections
- 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for non-general elections
Statutes: SC Code § 7-13-25
South Dakota
Early Voting Begins: Forty-six days before election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: 5 p.m. the day before the election
Locations: Office of the person in charge of elections
Hours and Days:
- Regular office hours
Statutes: S.D.C.L. §12-19-1.2, S.D.C.L12-19-2.1
Tennessee
Early Voting Begins: Twenty days before election
Early Voting Ends: Five days before election (seven days for a presidential preference primary)
Locations: County election commission office or other designated locations
Hours and Days:
- Offices must be open a minimum of three consecutive hours on weekdays and Saturdays between 8 a.m.-6 p.m. during early voting.
Statutes: TN ST §2-6-102(a)(1), TN ST § 2-6-103
Texas
Early Voting Begins: Seventeen days before election
Early Voting Ends: Four days prior to election
Locations:
- In a room in the offices of the county clerk, or elsewhere as determined by the clerk.
- Each county has one main early voting center
Hours and Days:
- Regular business hours on weekdays, or 12 hours per day during the last week for large counties.
Statutes: Tex. Elec. Code §85.001, Tex. Elec. Code §85.002
Utah
Early Voting Begins: Fourteen days before election Note: Utah conducts elections primarily by mail.
Early Voting Ends: Friday before election, may extend to the day before the election
Locations: In government offices as determined by election officer
Hours and Days:
- At least four days per week, with optional Saturday, Sunday, or holiday voting
Statutes: Utah Code §20A-3-601
Vermont
Early Voting Begins: Forty-five days before election Note: Vermont conducts elections primarily by mail.
Early Voting Ends: 5 p.m. day before election
Locations: Offices of town clerks; may have mobile polling stations
Hours and Days:
- Not specified
Statutes: VT ST T. 17 § 2531, VT ST T. 17 § 2532a, VT ST T. 17 § 2537
Virginia
Early Voting Begins: Forty-five days before election
Early Voting Ends: 5 p.m. Saturday before election
Locations: Office of the general registrar; additional locations in public buildings at local discretion
Hours and Days:
- Regular business hours; minimum of eight hours on the two Saturdays before the election; optional Sunday voting
Statutes: VA Code Ann. § 24.2-701.1
Washington
Early Voting Begins: Eighteen days before an election Note: Washington conducts elections primarily by mail.
Early Voting Ends: 8 p.m. on day of election
Locations: Election offices or locations designated by the county auditor
Hours and Days:
- Normal business hours
Statutes: WA ST 29A.40.160
West Virginia
Early Voting Begins: Thirteen days before election
Early Voting Ends: Three days before election
Locations: Courthouse or the annex next to the courthouse
Hours and Days:
- Must be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays through early voting period
Statutes: W.V. Code §3-3-3
Wisconsin
Early Voting Begins: Fourteen days preceding the election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: Sunday preceding the election
Locations: Clerks’ offices
Hours and Days:
- A municipality shall specify the hours
Statutes: Wis. Code §6.86(1)(b)
Wyoming
Early Voting Begins: Twenty-eight days before election (in-person absentee)
Early Voting Ends: Day before election
Locations: County clerks’ offices; courthouse or other public building
Hours and Days:
- Must be open regular hours on normal business days
Statutes: Wyo. Stat. §22-9-105, Wyo. Stat. §22-9-125, Wyo. Stat. § 22-9-107