Early Voting Begins in the US Here’s WEarly Voting Begins in the US: Here’s What to Knowhat to Know
                     Early Voting Begins in the US: Here’s
What to Know
Many voters in the US have options to cast their ballots
before election Day, November 5. Reports say that some 
have already started receiving mail-in ballots. Early 
voting became popular in 2020, when the coronavirus 
pandemic was in full swing, as it allowed people to avoid 
crowding into polling stations. Reports say over 100 
million voters cast their ballots by mail or in person 
before Election Day.
Why Early Voting
Early voting opportunities ensure that more people can 
cast a ballot regardless of disability, time constraints, 
work, travel or other factors that could hamper them on 
Early Voting Begins in the US: Here’s
What to Know
election day. It also presents an opportunity to build 
enthusiasm, a vital tool candidates can use to increase 
voters turnout during election cycles.
How Does Early Voting Work in the US
Early voting allows individuals to cast their ballots before 
Election Day, giving them more flexibility. Most states 
provide options for both in-person and mail voting, 
although the specifics can differ by state.
Early Voting Begins in the US: Here’s
What to Know
Traditionally, voters unable to attend the polls on Election
Day had to request an absentee ballot. However, in many
states, mail-in and absentee ballots work the same way, 
even though the terminology may vary. In 14 states, 
including Texas, South Carolina, and Indiana, voters 
provide a valid reason to obtain an absentee ballot.
In-person early voting is another option. In some states, 
this resembles absentee voting, where individuals can go 
to polling places, fill out a mail-in ballot, and submit it in 
one visit. In other states, early voting follows the same
procedures as on Election Day, using polling 
machines to cast votes.
Which States Offer Early Voting?
All states in the U.S. provide some form of mail voting, 
allowing voters to cast their ballots by mail. Also, nearly 
all states (except Alabama, Mississippi, and New 
Hampshire) offer in-person early voting, which lets people
vote before Election Day at designated polling places.
The District of Columbia and territories like Guam, Puerto 
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands provide in-person early 
voting options. The three states that do not have early 
voting—Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire—still 
offer absentee voting, which allows certain voters to cast 
their ballots by mail under specific circumstances.
Early Voting Schedule for U.S. States
A report by the New York Times state the early voting 
schedule as follows:
Early Voting Begins in the US: Here’s
What to Know
Sept. 11 — Alabama became the first state to initiate 
early voting, sending absentee ballots to eligible voters 
who provided a valid reason. North Carolina was poised 
to be the first to distribute mail ballots, but this was 
postponed due to legal issues surrounding the removal of
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name after his exit from the race.
Sept. 19 — Wisconsin began mailing ballots to those who 
had requested them.
Sept. 20 — Minnesota and South Dakota started offering 
both mail and in-person early voting, while 
Virginia launched its in-person early voting option.
Sept. 21 — This marked the federal deadline for mailing 
absentee ballots to military and overseas voters, 
prompting eleven states to begin sending out mail-in 
ballots.
Sept. 23 — Mississippi started distributing absentee 
ballots to voters who had applied.
Sept. 24 — North Carolina began mailing ballots to voters
who requested them.
Sept. 26 — Mail-in voting commenced in Michigan, where 
voters need to request their ballots.
Sept. 30 — Nebraska started sending mail ballots to 
eligible voters who had made requests.
Oct. 7 — Georgia initiated the mailing of ballots to eligible
voters.
Oct. 9 — Arizona began both in-person and mail-in 
voting; voters must request inclusion on the 
Early Voting Begins in the US: Here’s
What to Know
state’s 
Active Early Voter List to receive mail ballots.
Oct. 15 — In-person early voting launched in Georgia.
Oct. 16 — Nevada mailed ballots to all registered voters.
Oct. 17 — North Carolina commenced in-person early 
voting.
Oct. 19 — Nevada began its in-person early voting.
Oct. 21 — Texas started its in-person early voting period.
Oct. 22 — Wisconsin initiated in-person early voting, 
while counties in Pennsylvania must begin mailing ballots 
to applicants if they haven't done so already.
Oct. 26 — Michigan opened in-person early voting, 
becoming the last battleground state to do so.
Early Voting Begins in the US: Here’s
What to Know
Early voting, particularly mail-in voting, became a 
contentious issue during the 2020 election. This 
controversy largely stemmed from unfounded claims of 
election fraud.
Historically, more Democrats have utilized mail-in voting 
compared to Republicans, who tend to vote in person on 
Election Day. In many jurisdictions, ballots cast in person 
are counted before those received by mail, leading to a 
situation where early results may show Republican 
candidates leading. As mail-in votes—predominantly 
from Democratic voters—are counted later, the initial 
results can shift, creating what some call a “blue shift” (a 
late surge in Democratic votes) or a “red mirage” (an 
early lead for Republicans that fades as more votes are 
counted).
In 2020, former President Donald Trump falsely claimed 
that the mail-in voting system was fraught with fraud, 
contributing to the narrative that the election was stolen 
from him after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Despite 
losing, Trump has continued to assert that the election 
results were manipulated.
In response to these claims, many state legislatures 
implemented new restrictions on early voting and 
increased scrutiny for mail-in ballots following the 2020 
election. However, in the current election cycle, reports 
say the Republican Party has started to embrace early 
voting more fully, particularly as Trump campaigns again 
against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.