09/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 10:43
NCSL does not run elections and cannot provide legal advice. If you are a voter looking for assistance, please contact your local election official. You can find your local election official's website and contact information by using this database from the US Vote Foundation.
As of August 2024, forty-seven states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands offer early in-person voting to all voters (this includes states with all-mail elections). Three states-Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire-do not offer early in-person voting, though they may provide options for eligible absentee voters.
In referring to early in-person voting, states use different terminology, including early voting, in-person absentee voting and advance voting. NCSL categorizes a state as having early in-person voting if the option is available to all voters. NCSL distinguishes between "early voting," which functions similarly to Election Day voting, and "in-person absentee voting," which is when a voter requests, completes and signs an absentee ballot in a polling place. From the voter's perspective, however, the experiences of early voting and in-person absentee voting are essentially the same.
Additionally, eight states and Washington, D.C., run elections primarily by mail, though all retain some early in-person voting options for voters who need or prefer it.
Early in-person voting periods vary by state:
Statutes and information about locations, days and hours (if available) are listed below. This information applies primarily to statewide general elections. Early voting periods for municipal or primary elections may be different.
For further information on pre-Election Day voting, including voting by mail, visit NCSL's Voting Outside the Polling Placewebpage.
State/Territory |
Early Voting Begins |
Early Voting Ends |
Locations |
Hours and Days |
Statute(s) |
Alaska |
Fifteen days before election |
Day of election |
Elections supervisors' offices. Other locations as designated by election director. |
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 |
AS §15.20.064 AS §15.20.045 |
Arizona |
Twenty-seven days before election |
Friday before election |
Recorder's office. Any other locations in the county the recorder deems necessary. |
Not specified |
ARS §16-541 ARS §16-542 |
Arkansas |
Fifteen days before election |
5 p.m. Monday before election |
Offices of county clerk. Other locations as determined by county board of election commissioners. |
8 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Saturday before the election, until 5 p.m. the Monday before the election |
AR Code §7-5-418 |
California |
Twenty-nine days before election Note: California conducts elections primarily by mail. |
Day of election |
County election officials' offices. Satellite locations as determined by county election officials. |
Varies from county to county |
Elec. Code § 3000.5 Elec. Code §3001 Elec. Code §3018 |
Colorado |
Voter service and polling centers must be open 15 days before an election. Note: Colorado conducts elections primarily by mail. |
Day of election |
Determined by county election officials. |
Every day but Sunday during the early voting period. Normal business hours (but may be expanded by county board of commissioners). |
C.R.S. §1-5-102 |
Connecticut |
Fifteen days before election |
Two days before election |
Registrar of voters shall designate locations |
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Tuesday and Thursday before the election. |
CT Public Act No. 23-5 |
Delaware |
Ten days before an election |
Sunday before election |
Determined by State Election Commissioner at least 30 days before and election |
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. |
Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 5402, 5403, 5404 |
District of Columbia |
Twelve days before election Note: D.C. conducts elections primarily by mail. |
Saturday before election |
No fewer than eight early voting centers, with at least one early voting center available in a central location within each election ward. |
8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday excluded. |
DC ST § 1-1001.09 |
Florida |
Ten days before election. May be offered 11 to 15 days before an election that contains state and federal races, at the discretion of the elections supervisor. |
Three days before election. May end two days before an election that contains state and federal races, at the discretion of the elections supervisor. |
Main or branch offices of elections supervisors. Other sites designated by the elections supervisor (locations must provide all voters in that area with equal opportunity to vote). |
No less than eight or more than 12 hours per day. Election supervisors may choose to provide additional days of early voting, including weekends. |
Fla. Stat. §101.657 |
Georgia |
Fourth Monday prior to a primary or election; as soon as possible prior to a runoff |
Friday immediately prior to a primary, election or runoff |
Board of registrars' offices. Other sites as designated by boards of registrars (must be a government building generally accessible to the public). |
Normal business hours on weekdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the second Saturday prior to primary or election. Election officials may provide for early voting beyond regular business hours. |
GA ST § 21-2-385 |
Guam |
Thirty days before election |
Five days before election |
Any Commission office |
Not specified |
GU ST T. 3, § 10107 |
Hawaii |
Ten business days prior to Election Day. Note: Hawaii conducts elections primarily by mail. |
7 p.m. on Election Day |
Voter Service Centers |
Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
HRS § 11-131 HRS § 11-109 |
Idaho |
Third Monday before election (in-person absentee) |
5 p.m., Friday before election |
Determined by county clerk |
Not specified |
ID Code §34-1006 ID Code §34-1002 |
Illinois |
Fortieth day before election for temporary polling locations and 15th day before election for permanent locations |
End of the day before election day |
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 must be provided at public universities. |
Permanent early voting locations must remain open from the 15tth day before an election during the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. 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. |
10 ILCS 5/19A-15 10 ILCS 5/19A-20 |
Indiana |
Twenty-eight days before election (in-person absentee) |
Noon, day before election |
Office of circuit court clerk. County election board may adopt a resolution to authorize the circuit court clerk to establish satellite offices for early voting. |
The office of the circuit court clerk must permit in-person absentee voting for at least seven hours on each of the two Saturdays preceding election day, but a county with fewer than 20,000 voters may reduce this to a minimum of four hours on each of the two Saturdays preceding election day. |
Ind. Code §3-11-4-1 Ind. Code 3-11-10-26 |
Iowa |
Twenty days before election (in-person absentee) |
5 p.m., day before election |
Commissioners' offices Satellite locations may be established by commissioner. Satellite location must be established upon receipt of a petition signed by at least 100 eligible electors requesting a specific location. |
A satellite station established by petition must be open at least one day for a minimum of six hours. |
IA Code §53.10 IA Code §53.11(b) |
Kansas |
Twenty days before election or Tuesday before election (varies by county) |
Noon, day before election |
Offices of county election officers. County election officers may designate satellite locations. |
Not specified |
KSA §25-1119 KSA §25-1122a KSA §25-1123 |
Kentucky |
Thursday before election. |
Saturday before election. |
Offices of county clerks or any other locations designated by the county board of elections. |
Eight hours between 6 a.m. 8 p.m. on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding the election. |
KY ST § 117.076 |
Louisiana |
Fourteen days before election |
Seven days before election |
Registrars' offices. Registrar may provide alternate location in the courthouse or a public building in the immediate vicinity thereof. One branch office of the registrar, as long as it is in a public building. |
8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Holidays excluded. |
LA R.S. 18:1303 LA R.S. 18:1309 |
Maine |
In-person absentee voting available as soon as absentee ballots are ready (30-45 days before election) |
Three business days before election, unless the voter has an acceptable excuse. |
Municipal clerks' offices |
During regular business hours on days when clerks' offices are open. |
ME ST T. 21-A § 753-A ME ST T. 21-A § 754-A |
Maryland |
On the second Thursday before an election |
Thursday before an election |
Established by State Board of Elections in collaboration with local boards. Number required depends on county population and ranges from one to five per county. |
7 a.m.-8 p.m. |
MD Election Law §10-301.1 |
Massachusetts |
Seventeen days before election for state biennial elections; 10 days before election for presidential or state primaries. |
Four days before an election |
Early voting sites, which includes the local election office. Additional locations may be provided at the discretion of the city or town registrar. |
Regular business hours and on weekends; hours vary by size of jurisdiction. City or town clerks may provide additional hours at their discretion. |
M.G.L.A. 54 §25B |
Michigan |
Nine days before an election |
Sunday before an election |
Early voting sites may serve more than six precincts and may serve voters from more than one municipality. |
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. |
MI CONST Art. 2, § 4 |
Minnesota |
Forty-six days before election (in-person absentee) |
5 p.m. the day before election |
Elections offices or any other location designated by county auditor. |
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. |
M.S.A. §203B.081 M.S.A. §203B.085 |
Missouri |
The second Tuesday before an election. |
Not specified. |
Locations designated by the election authority. |
Not specified. |
MO ST 115.277 |
Montana |
Thirty days before election (in-person absentee) |
Day before election |
Elections offices |
Not specified |
M.C.A. §13-13-205 |
Nebraska |
Thirty days before each election. |
Election Day |
County clerk or election commissioners' offices |
Not specified |
NE ST § 32-808 NE ST §32-938 NE ST 32-942 |
Nevada |
Third Saturday preceding election Note: Nevada conducts elections primarily by mail. |
Friday before election |
Permanent places for early voting as designated by county clerk. Branch polling places for early voting as designated by county clerk. There are special requirements for early voting sites on Native American reservations. |
Monday through Friday for at least eight hours a day, to be established by the clerk. Any Saturday that falls within the early voting period for at least four hours, to be established by the clerk. A clerk may choose to offer Sunday hours as well. |
N.R.S. §293.356 N.R.S. 293.3564 N.R.S. 293.3568 |
New Jersey |
Ten days before the election, but in-person absentee voting begins forty-five days before the election. |
Sunday before election |
Each county board of elections shall designate at least three, but not more than five, public locations within each county, except that the county board shall designate at least five, but not more than seven public locations for early voting if the number of registered voters in the county is at least 150,000 but less than 300,000, and shall designate at least seven, but not more than 10 public locations for early voting if the number of registered voters in the county is 300,000 or more. |
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. |
NJ ST 19:15A-1 |
New Mexico |
Twenty-eight days before an election at a clerk's office; on the third Saturday before an election for alternate locations |
Saturday before election |
Clerks' offices and: In counties with more than 150,000 voters, clerks must establish at least 15 additional locations. In counties with 50,000-150,000 voters, clerks must establish at least four additional locations; and in counties with 10,000-50,000 voters, clerks must establish at least one alternate location. |
Hours are set by the clerk, and 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, and may be closed on Sundays and Mondays. |
N. M. S. A. 1978, § 1-6-5.7 |
New York |
Tenth day before election |
Second day before an election |
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. Counties with fewer than 50,000 registered voters shall have at least one early voting location. Counties and the city of New York may choose to establish more than the minimum required. Early voting sites shall be located so that voters have adequate and equitable access. |
Open for at least eight hours between 7 a.m.-8 p.m. each weekday during the early voting period. At least one early voting site shall be open until 8 p.m. on at least two weekdays in each calendar week during the early voting period. Open for at least five hours between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on each Saturday, Sunday and legal holiday during the early voting period. Boards of elections may establish a greater number of hours for voting during the early voting period beyond what is required. |
NY ELEC § 8-600 |
North Carolina |
Third Thursday before election |
3 p.m. on the last Saturday before election |
Office of county board of elections. The county board of elections may choose to offer additional locations, subject to approval by the state board of elections. All sites must be open during the same days and hours. |
Monday through Friday during regular business hours at the county board of elections. A county board may conduct early voting on weekends. If the county board of elections opens early voting sites on Saturdays or Sundays during the early voting period, then all sites shall be open for the same number of hours uniformly throughout the county on those days. There are exceptions for counties with islands that contain no bridges to the mainland. |
N.C.G.S.A. §163-227.2 |
North Dakota |
Fifteen days before election |
Day before election |
At the discretion of county auditor |
The county auditor chooses and publishes the hours. |
NDCC §16.1-07-15 |
Ohio |
Twenty-nine days before election (in-person absentee) |
2 p.m. Monday before election |
Main office of board of elections. Board may conduct voting at a branch office only under certain conditions. |
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some 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. |
O.R.C. § 3509.051 O.R.C. § 3509.01 |
Oklahoma |
Wednesday preceding an election (in-person absentee) |
2 p.m. on the Saturday before election |
At a location designated by the county election board. For counties of more than 25,000 registered voters or with an area of more than 1,500 square miles, more than one location may be designated. |
8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. |
OK ST T. 26 § 14-115.4 |
Oregon |
Drop sites must open the Friday before an election, but may open as soon as ballots are available (18 days before). Note: Oregon conducts elections primarily by mail. |
Day of election |
Election offices or other staffed locations (libraries, city halls, etc.) or outdoor mailboxes (drive-by or walking traffic). |
Normal business hours. |
OR ST §254.470 |
Pennsylvania |
Counties will begin preparing in-person mail/absentee ballots after the official candidate list is certified, no earlier than 50 days before the election. The timing of availability of ballots may vary by county. |
5 p.m. first Tuesday prior to day of election |
Local board of elections |
During regular business hours |
25 P.S. § 3146.2a |
Puerto Rico |
Not specified |
On or before election day |
Voting centers set up by the Commission |
Not specified |
PR ST T. 16 § 4739 |
Rhode Island |
Twenty days before election (in-person absentee) |
Day before election |
At local boards of canvassers |
During regular business hours |
RI ST §17-20-2.2 |
South Carolina |
Two weeks before Election Day |
Day before election |
At early voting centers |
8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for statewide general elections; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for any elections that are not statewide general elections. |
SC Code § 7-13-25 |
South Dakota |
Forty-six days before election (in-person absentee) |
5 p.m. the day before the election |
Office of the person in charge of elections |
Regular office hours |
S.D.C.L. §12-19-1.2 S.D.C.L12-19-2.1 |
Tennessee |
Twenty days before election |
Five days before election (seven days for a presidential preference primary) |
County election commission office or other location(s) designated by the county election commission. |
Offices must be open a minimum of three consecutive hours on weekdays and Saturdays between 8 a.m.-6 p.m. during the early voting period. On at least three days, offices must be open between 4:30-7 p.m., and on at least one Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in counties with a population of over 150,000. |
TN ST §2-6-102(a)(1) TN ST § 2-6-103 |
Texas |
Seventeen days before election |
Four days prior to election |
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. |
During business hours on weekdays unless: Fewer than 1,000 voters, in which case three hours per day, or more than 100,000 voters, in which case 12 hours per day during the last week. |
Tex. Elec. Code §85.001 Tex. Elec. Code §85.002 |
Utah |
Fourteen days before election Note: Utah conducts elections primarily by mail. |
Friday before election, though an election official may choose to extend the early voting period to the day before the election |
In government offices as determined by election officer |
At least four days per week, and on the last day of the early voting period. The election officer may elect to conduct early voting on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday. |
Utah Code §20A-3-601 |
Vermont |
Forty-five days before election Note: Vermont conducts elections primarily by mail. |
5 p.m. day before election |
Offices of town clerks Clerks may make "mobile polling stations" available. |
Not specified |
VT ST T. 17 § 2531 VT ST T. 17 § 2532a VT ST T. 17 § 2537 |
U.S. Virgin Islands |
Fourteen days before an election |
Three days before an election |
Permanent main or branch office of the supervisor of elections for the district. The supervisor of elections may also designate public or government-owned facilities. However, these sites must be geographically located so as to provide all electors in the district an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable. |
No less than eight hours and no more than 12 hours per day at each site. |
VI ST T. 18 § 664 |
Virginia |
Forty-five days before election |
5 p.m. Saturday before election |
Office of the general registrar. Additional locations in public buildings may be provided at local discretion. |
Regular business hours. A minimum of eight hours between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on the two Saturdays before the election. The electoral board or general registrar may provide early voting on the two Sundays before the election, as well. |
VA Code Ann. § 24.2-701.1 |
Washington |
Eighteen days before an election. Note: Washington conducts elections primarily by mail. |
8 p.m. on day of election. |
Election offices or other locations designated by the county auditor. |
Normal business hours. |
WA ST 29A.40.160 |
West Virginia |
Thirteen days before election |
Three days before election |
Courthouse or the annex next to the courthouse County commission may designate additional areas, subject to requirements prescribed by the Secretary of State. |
Must be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays through early voting period. |
W.V. Code §3-3-3 |
Wisconsin |
Fourteen days preceding the election (in-person absentee) |
Sunday preceding the election |
Clerks' offices |
A municipality shall specify the hours. |
Wis. Code §6.86(1)(b) |
Wyoming |
Forty days before election (in-person absentee) |
Day before election |
County clerks' offices Courthouse or other public building |
Must be open regular hours on normal business days. |
Wyo. Stat. §22-9-105 Wyo. Stat. §22-9-125 |
Our organization does not run elections and cannot provide legal advice. If you are a voter looking for assistance, please contact your local election official. You can find your local election official's website and contact information by using this database from the US Vote Foundation.