Early in-person voting lets you cast your ballot at a designated site before Election Day, and 47 states plus Washington, D.C., offer it to all voters for the November 3, 2026, midterms. Only Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire do not, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Early voting periods average 20 days and usually end a few days before Election Day.
In most states, you do not need a reason to vote early, and you use the same ballot you would on Election Day.
How does early voting work?
- Confirm you are registered. See our guide on how to check your voter registration.
- Find your early voting sites and hours. These are set by your county or local election office and may differ from your Election Day polling place. Many counties let you use any early site in the county.
- Bring the ID your state requires. Requirements vary by state.
- Vote. You check in, receive your ballot and cast it, just as you would on Election Day.
Which states offer early voting?
| States | |
|---|---|
| Early in-person voting for all voters | 47 states, plus Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands |
| No early in-person voting for all voters | Alabama, Mississippi, New Hampshire |
The 47 include states that run elections mostly by mail, which offer in-person voting at voting centers. In Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire, voters who qualify can vote absentee, generally with an accepted excuse.
When does early voting start and end?
Each state sets its own calendar. According to NCSL:
| Range across states | |
|---|---|
| Earliest start | As early as 50 days before Election Day |
| Latest start | As late as the Friday before Election Day |
| Average start | 27 days before Election Day |
| Length of period | 3 to 46 days; average 20 days |
| End | Typically a few days before Election Day; some states continue to the day before |
A few 2026 examples: Ohio began early in-person voting on October 6, and Georgia opened on October 13.
Is turnout high so far?
In Georgia, more than 188,600 people voted in person on the first day of early voting, a record, compared with about 135,000 on the first day in 2022, the Secretary of State's office reported. Read more in our Georgia Senate race report.
Is early voting the same as mail voting?
No. Early voting is in person, before Election Day. Absentee or mail voting means you receive a ballot and return it by mail, drop box or in person. Every state offers some form of absentee voting, but rules on who qualifies, how to request a ballot and when it must arrive differ widely. Vote.gov's FAQ covers mail and absentee voting and links to each state's rules.
What if I miss early voting?
You can still vote on Tuesday, November 3. Check when polls close in your state, and remember that anyone in line at closing time can still vote.
