Early voting in person is available today – Oct 7– in these states:
Michigan
Minnesota
South Dakota
Vermont
Virginia
Wyoming
Illinois
Maine early voting: October 5 – 30
California: October 5 – November 2
Ohio starts on October 6
New Mexico: October 6
Indiana: October 6
Arizona: October 7th
Texas: October 13
New York: Oct 24 – Nov 1
* Voting absentee in person (a bit of an oxymoron) started on September 9 in Alabama
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Always check your state and county websites for specific information about voting times and voting locations.
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Missouri does not offer an early voting period. If you will be unable to vote in person on Election Day, you can request an absentee ballot/mail-in ballot by mail or by visiting your local election office – beginning on Sept 22.
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Remember, if you vote – in person or drop it off or put it in the mail – stop by and post a comment in the I Voted post. It’s in the sidebar on computers and in the hamburger menu on mobile.
If you know the date for early voting, and your state isn’t on one of these lists yet, let me know in the comments:
Georgia early voting: October 12 – October 30
Texas early voting: October 13 – October 30
Kentucky: October 13th
Rhode Island: October 14
North Carolina: Oct 15 – 31
Massachusetts early voting starts October 17
New Mexico: Oct 17 – 31
Missouri: September 22
Nevada: October 17 – 30
Colorado: October 19
Florida early voting: October 24 – 31 (Oct 19 in some places!)
Wisconsin: October 20
West Virginia: Oct 21 – Oct 31
Texas Officer Charged With Murder
Elizabelle
I voted in person, yesterday, in Virginia. 5 minutes in and out; arrived about 4:00 pm.
Have never been so happy and relieved to have voted. Bank that vote!
MisterForkbeard
It’s a sign that most of my friends here in CA are sad that we haven’t received our ballots yet. We’re all champing at the bit.
trollhattan
@MisterForkbeard:
Yeah, have to receive them and then we have the added step of getting the kid’s to her, off in college, so she can complete and mail it in–her first-evah presidential ballot! (Reminds me of voting against Nixon.)
patrick II
@Elizabelle:
I am waiting until Seatack opens on Oct 19. My ballot is filled out and ready to go.
Ohio Mom
I’m planning on voting in-person on Thursday. I didn’t want to go the first day, I’m waiting until the inevitable start-up snags are taken care of.
I’m torn: of course I want huge crowds, just not a long line when I’m there! Mostly because our Covid numbers are in an upswing around here.
Anyway, got my Democratic cheat sheet with all the obscure offices listed, so ready to go. I’m expecting to feel relieved when I can cross this off my To-do list.
A Ghost to Most
Colorado ballots supposed to be sent out on Oct. 9. Should be no drama.
Barbara
I voted two weeks ago, but wanted to post a little pet rescue pick me up. My daughter was sharing the care and keep of a dog that her co-worker found in the median of a busy road. She was evidently an old girl, because she was blind with bald spots. She had no collar and no chip, and weighed no more than 10 pounds. Around five days after posting signs in their neighborhood as well as online, they were contacted by the owner. Apparently she is TWENTY years old and might have doggy dementia at that age. She just wandered off and it was a very happy reunion.
Phylllis
Hubby and I requested absentee ballots and completed them last Saturday. He hand-delivered them to the elections office on Monday and we’ve both printed our confirmations. I cannot tell you what a pleasure it was to fill in the oval next to Jaime Harrison’s name. Also voted for Adair Burroughs, who’s running again Joe ‘you lie’ Wilson. She’s a bit repub-lite for my taste, but frankly a slug would be an improvement over Wilson.
dmsilev
@MisterForkbeard: Mine (LA County) came over the weekend; I filled it out and dropped it off at City Hall today.
Almost Retired
All four registered voters in this household (Los Angeles) got our ballots on Friday, and mailed them in 10 minutes later. We’re pretty freakin’ motivated, here……
Ken
I”ve got my Illinois mail-in ballot, but am dithering whether to use it or wait another two weeks and vote in person. Thoughts?
(There is one early voting site open already, but it’s a long drive. The nearby site opens on October 19.)
?BillinGlendaleCA
@MisterForkbeard: I got mine yesterday.
Geoduck
Washington state should be mailing out ballots this week.
Mary G
@Barbara: Aw, that is a feel good story.
@MisterForkbeard: I posted yesterday that I got a text my ballot had been mailed out and I should receive it in 5-7 days. I was furious it will take that long. I have the sample ballot all filled out, which I have never done before in my life, ready to copy it off and fill in the real one. There is a drive-through ballot return box at the municipal golf course 1.4 miles from my house, so my plan is all set. Just want to do it NOW.
O. Felix Culpa
Absentee In-Person Voting starts TODAY in New Mexico. This means that you can vote early at your county clerk’s office (or special designated site) in person as of today. Here’s info for Santa Fe County voting times and locations.
WaterGirl
@Elizabelle: Yay! You can add your vote to I Voted! in the sidebar if you want.
WaterGirl
@Ohio Mom:
So say we all!
WV Blondie
@Ohio Mom: There’s a comment from an Ohio voter on the most current Jen Rubin column in WaPo about early voting. They say they always vote at 8 a.m. sharp on the first day of early voting, in and out in 10 minutes. Today, there was already a line waiting at 7:45, and they didn’t get in and out until 9:10 – and by then the line was blocks long!
WaterGirl
@Ken: Depends on whether you want your vote counted now, or if on Nov 3 or after is okay with you.
Benw
NYS early voting Oct 24 – Nov 1. Be there or be square
WaterGirl
@O. Felix Culpa: Do you have to have a reason, or can anyone do it? I’ll update up top if pretty much anyone can.
Cheryl Rofer
@WaterGirl: Anyone can. I don’t understand why NM distinguishes between Absentee-in-Person (starting today) and Early Voting (starts the 17th).
I went past the convention center this morning and didn’t see many people. I plan to go later this week, maybe tomorrow or Thursday
ETA: More locations for early voting.
O. Felix Culpa
@WaterGirl: No reason required. Any registered voter can vote absentee in-person. As best I can see, the main difference between Absentee In-Person Voting and Early Voting is that the former is at the county clerk’s office (or in this plague year, a special site substitute) and starts now, while the latter offers multiple polling places for the period October 17-31.
O. Felix Culpa
@Cheryl Rofer: A friend of mine just sent a photo with people lined up outside the convention center. With social distancing requirements, it’s a little hard to judge just how many people there are.
Causticity Acerbity
In Michigan, my absentee ballot is completed and already listed as received on the state tracking website. Same for my 18 year old son voting for the first time. Unfortunately, the 18 year old, not paying attention when told his absentee ballot had arrived and was on the table, initially filled out and signed his mother’s ballot so she has to go into the clerk’s office this week and get it spoiled and a new ballot issued.
rk
I sent in for my mail in ballot a month ago. Not a sign of it so far. And I’m in a swing state (PA).
Eunicecycle
Just read in the local paper that people started lining up at 4am in Stark County, Ohio. My husband and I plan to vote in a few days after things die down. If it doesn’t, we’ll wait!
counterfactual
Voted today, was #126 at approximately 10 am, came in just after the morning rush in my rural Ohio county. The Democrats had a trailer set up in the parking lot.
WaterGirl
@O. Felix Culpa: Thank you.
Added New Mexico up top!
Carlo
Chicago EV began at a single downtown site on October 1, but will be available in all neighborhoods as of October 14. The Board of Elections has locations and hours at https://chicagoelections.gov/en/early-voting.html. I plan to go to my neighborhood site on the 14th.
WaterGirl
@Cheryl Rofer: @O. Felix Culpa:
All these distinctions without a difference. Or without any apparent difference anyway!
Sab
@Ohio Mom: Drove by our early voting at BOE in Akron OH and it was mobbed. They had a big tent/canopy (roof no sides) in the parking lot. They may be making people stand in line outside only.
We are planning to go 8 am tomorrow.
Sister Golden Bear
@MisterForkbeard: Same.
I got mine over the weekend and dropped it off yesterday at one of the many drop-off boxes nearby. Still waiting to get texted that it’s reached the election office and have been verified to be counted.
Funny how things are different when your government wants you to vote
FYI, CA allows mail-in ballots to be counted prior to election day, but the results aren’t released until the polls closed. Typically they’re a big part of the first tranche of results announced.
mrmoshpotato
@Ken:
Use it!
I got my mail-in ballot last week, but citywide (Chicago) early voting doesn’t start for a week. So I’m holding on to mine until I can drop it at our ward’s early voting site up the street instead of going downtown to the currently-open supersite.
narya
@mrmoshpotato: @Carlo: @Ken: I’m going to vote in person, early, at the site in my ward (which starts on the 14th, I think). I’m not going to go downtown, but I also am not doing mail-in. That was my original plan until I discovered that IL doesn’t start counting mail-in until the polls close; there are so many ways that mail-in can fail this year, I decided to do the early voting in person. If there’s a line/crowd, I will just either wait or go back. If you did request a mail-in ballot but decide to vote in person, I believe you have to bring the mail-in with you.
mrmoshpotato
@narya:
Probably. I haven’t opened my ballot yet, so I’m not sure.
WaterGirl
@narya: That was my choice also, and I’m glad I did it. As long as you feel it can be safe for you, it seems like the safest bet to bank the vote.
Who knows what crazy stuff they will pull? I mean, I know they will pull crazy stuff, but with this supreme court, there’s no telling what kinds of crazy non-democratic outcomes we might have.
Bagel J
Indiana starts in-person early voting today (October 6th). I do not expect the state to be competitive in the presidential race, but the state and local races are a chance for the Democrats to start building the party back up after a good number of years in the wilderness.
catclub
This is probably accurate, but given that Ohio looks competitive, and Obama took Indiana in 2008, disappointing.
WaterGirl
@Bagel J: Thank you!
I added Indiana up top!
catclub
… it turns out the SC decided we just voted to bomb Sweden. Also Nepal.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
It’s good to live in a place that wants everyone to vote and makes it as convenient as possible. I got my CA absentee ballot a few days ago and have finished filling in all but the local propositions. Monsieur Colette always likes to wait until I’ve completed mine and then talk through everything with me as he fills his in – he doesn’t always agree but uses me as a screening process, which is sometimes mildly annoying. Once his is done, I’ll take both to the staffed drive-up drop-off in front of City Hall. I’ve given him a Sunday deadline. Bank them votes!
Kay
It’s bad how much I’m enjoying this:
They finally figured it out. Donald Trump is the problem.
topclimber
@Benw: I have been making calls for Antonio Delgado (NY-19) and playing up early voting. This is NY’s first foray into early voting, and folks need to be aware of a possible snag.
Early voting sites are centralized in a few spots for each county. Most voters will NOT cast their ballot at their usual polling place. Make sure friends and family go to the right place!
Brachiator
California is trying to make it as easy as possible. Info at the registrar of voters website clearly explains everything that must be signed and noted for mail-in ballots to be valid.
Voter information for Los Angeles County
Mail Ballot Drop off voting available from October 5
In person voting available at vote centers October 24 in a few places, October 30 everywhere.
And there is a mail ballot status tool available
For people who want to vote in person, I think that there is an option
I am trying to wade through my sample ballot. Too many ballot propositions, some local measures, and some judges to vote for.
Ohio Mom
Hmmm…catching up with this thread, and thinking I might do some recon and drive pass the Board of Elections to see how long the line is, They aren’t too far from me.
Humanities Prof
My ballot (and that of Eldest Offspring) is now banked. We voted in-person on the first day of early voting in Ohio. So if I die of COVID between now and November 3, my vote still counts.
MisterForkbeard
I’m in the north bay of CA, and signed up for text and e-mail notifications about my ballot. Unfortunately haven’t seen anything yet, but I’m waiting not-so-patiently for it.
The ballot dropoff is literally two blocks from my house, and I can’t decide if I want to drop it there or make the 25 minute drive to the election board and drop it off it directly.
Torrey
Quick note for Ohioans. The Ohio Supreme Court justices apparently don’t have party affiliation next to their names on the ballot. I know this crowd is going to do their research, but just in case, John O’Donnell and Jennifer Brunner are Democrats.
Here’s the info provided by David Pepper, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party for these two candidates:
“Like Pennsylvania several years ago, Ohio faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity in 2020 to end gerrymandering of its U.S. House district map. After winning both Ohio Supreme Court races on the ballot in 2018 (for the first time in decades), Ohio Democrats are two seats away from the majority on the Ohio Supreme Court. In 2020, Democrats are once again challenging Republican incumbents with two strong candidates, Judge Jennifer Brunner and Judge John O’Donnell, who have experience running statewide campaigns. Thus far in our polling, Judge Brunner has been ahead in every poll, outside the margin of error; Judge O’Donnell, within the margin of error.”
MisterForkbeard
@Kay: Well, they figured out that Trump is the problem. But haven’t yet figured out that people genuinely like and trust Biden, and when he gets more attention he consistently comes across as a caring, competent dude.
They’re still living in their own bubble. Note that they’re not even saying that Trump is bad, they’re just saying that he needs to just yell about Biden some more.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@MisterForkbeard:
It’s CA – you’ll be OK either way. But I do understand that desire for belt, suspenders, second belt, and possibly clipping in to a harness for this election.
Miss Bianca
@Kay: Wow, watching the slugs like Ben Shapiro figure out who’s actually holding the salt shaker here is, in fact, amusing. Don’t feel bad – instead, let us...savor…
WaterGirl
@catclub:
So… not as bad as what I have been imagining!
gvg
Florida just extended it’s registration to vote deadline till midnight tonight because the state website crashed repeatedly yesterday. They are asking everyone who wants to do something else to stay off the site, which means I can’t check if my ballot has been accepted again till tomorrow.
fancycwabs
Can’t speak for all of Tennessee, but in Nashville early voting is Oct 14-29.
UncleEbeneezer
@Sister Golden Bear: Me too. Dropped our CA ballots off yesterday. Filling in a bubble (Biden/Harris) never felt so good! I’m guessing Ballot-trax will show them received tomorrow. Our ballot drop-boxes are also sturdy as tanks, so I don’t think it would be very easy to mess with them, which makes me feel good.
ET
DC resident here, I filled in my paper ballot that they sent to everyone in one of the city collection boxes yesterday.
IT. FELT. GREAT.
Sab
@Torrey: Thanks for the comment. Jennifer Brunner is why we in Ohio mostly have paper ( i.e. recountable) ballots. She was Sec of State, and a very good and impartial.
Gregory
This afternoon I join thousands of my fellow Americans in line for more than two hours to cast my vote in downtown Indianapolis, on the first day of early voting.
Judging from the number of masks (nearly universal), almost everyone was a Democrat.
I’ve been waiting almost four years to cast this vote, and it felt good.