Absentee and early voting in the US: What to know before the November 3 midterms
Some states will begin holding elections in September, while others will wait until October
The U.S. midterm elections are not limited to Tuesday, November 3. For millions of voters, Election Day will begin much earlier, either through in-person early voting or by casting a mail-in ballot, despite recent attempts by President Donald Trump to restrict and overhaul mail-in voting.
The voting calendars vary considerably from state to state. In 47 states and Washington, D.C., voters can cast their ballots early without having to provide a reason. In Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire, however, voters must meet certain requirements to vote before Election Day. Here is the key information ahead of the elections.
When does early voting begin in 2026?
Idaho, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Virginia were the first states to open early voting, beginning on September 18. At the other end of the spectrum, Kentucky will begin its early voting period on October 29.
The end date also varies from state to state. In Louisiana and Pennsylvania, early voting ends on October 27, while other states allow voters to cast their ballots early through the day before the election.
In addition, in some local jurisdictions, early voting centers may remain open on Election Day, depending on the rules that apply in each state and locality.
Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire have different rules. In all three states, voters who want to cast their ballots before November 3 must provide a valid reason, which may include circumstances such as illness or travel that prevents them from going to the polls on Election Day.
When does mail-in voting begin?
Mail-in voting is also available several weeks in advance. In most states and Washington, D.C., voters can request a mail-in ballot without having to provide a reason. In others, ballots are automatically sent to active registered voters, although they can also choose other ways to vote.
In addition, some states allow voters to join a permanent list to receive mail-in ballots in future elections.
The mail-in voting period has already begun in states such as North Carolina, which began sending out the first ballots for the midterm elections on September 4. Other states also began the process in September, while in different jurisdictions ballots will begin being sent in October.
When is the deadline to return a mail-in ballot?
In most states, the ballot must be received by Election Day. In others, election officials may count certain ballots that were completed and postmarked on Election Day but arrive later.
Some states and Washington, D.C., allow ballots postmarked November 3 to be counted if they arrive later, provided they meet the applicable deadlines.
Those later receipt deadlines range from November 6, three days after Election Day, in Kansas, Massachusetts, and Virginia, to November 23, 20 days after the election, in Washington.
The calendar is nevertheless subject to possible changes. The Supreme Court is currently considering a case involving the deadlines for receiving ballots after Election Day, so some rules could change.
Do all voters in a state have the same deadlines?
Not necessarily. Although there are statewide deadlines, some local election authorities have leeway to modify certain aspects of the calendar.
Florida, for example, requires counties to offer early voting between October 24 and 31, but local authorities can begin as early as October 19 and extend it through November 1.
In Utah, early voting is scheduled to run from October 20 through November 2, although local officials can reduce the period to a minimum of four days within that window.
There are also differences in the mailing of ballots. In Georgia, for example, local officials must begin sending them between October 5 and 9. In New Jersey, they must be sent no later than September 19, although they can be distributed earlier.
For that reason, knowing the statewide date is not always enough: voters should check the specific rules that apply in their jurisdiction.
How can voters check the election dates in their state?
The safest way to find out the current deadlines is to check directly with the election authority in the state or locality where the voter is registered.
Voters can use Vote.gov to find official information for their state. From there, they can access the relevant election resources and check details such as:
- When early voting begins and ends
- When they can request a mail-in ballot
- The deadline for returning the ballot
- Where early voting centers are located
- What requirements they must meet to vote before November 3
It is also advisable to check information from local election authorities, especially in states where counties or municipalities have some discretion to establish their own hours or dates within the periods allowed by state law.
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