The 2020 Presidential Election was the 59th quadrennial presidential election. The contest was between former Vice President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party and President Donald Trump of the Republican Party. Election Day was on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, when United States citizens selected presidential electors who in turn voted on December 14, 2020. Because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, states made it easier and safer for citizens to vote by expanding absentee (mail-in) and early voting.
Absentee voting, or vote-by-mail, is different from early voting as it allows you to vote by mail. Every state has absentee voting but, rules for who can vote absentee vary.
All-mail voting means that a ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter without requiring a request or application. In these states, polling places may also be open and available for those wanting to vote in person. Six states have all-mail voting:
Other states also allow vote-by-mail for certain elections and for people who have a qualifying excuse. Again, your state’s rules may change because of the coronavirus pandemic, so be sure to check your state’s election website. Check under “absentee voting” if you don’t see information under “voting in person” or “early voting.”
Some people are not able to vote on Election Day for several reasons. However, some states may let you vote during a designated early voting period. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, your state’s rules regarding voting may change between now and election day, so check with your state’s election website.
Most states have early voting, which allows registered voters to vote on specified dates before Election Day. The date on which early voting begins may be as early as 45 days before the election or as late as the Friday before the election. Early voting periods range from four days to 45 days, with the average being 19 days. Of the states that allow in-person early voting, 24 states and the District of Columbia allow some early voting on weekends.
The National Conference of State Legislatures has published a page of each state’s period for early voting. You do not need an excuse to vote early.
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia allow early voting. Four states do not offer in-person early voting options. These states are:
State | Voting Begins | Voting Ends | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None | None | Alabama does not have early voting. |
| Alaska | 15 days before Election Day | Through Election Day | Dates pertain to most locations |
| Arizona | 27 days before Election Day. | Friday before Election Day | Some counties may offer emergency early voting through the day before Election Day. |
| Arkansas | 15 days before Election Day | 5pm the Monday before Election Day | |
| California | 29 days before Election Day | The day before Election Day | State has all-mail voting. Ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off at early voting center. Dates vary by county. Voters should contact their county elections office to see if they offer early voting. |
| Colorado | 15 days before Election Day | Through Election Day | State has all-mail voting. Ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off at early voting center at listed dates. Precise dates may vary by county. |
| Connecticut | None | None | Connecticut does not have in-person early voting or no-excuse absentee voting. |
| Delaware | At least 10 days before Election Day | Sunday before Election Day | |
| District of Columbia | 12 days before Election Day. | Saturday before Election Day. | Varies. The period is set by the Board of Elections. |
| Florida | 10-15 days before Election Day | 2-3 days before Election Day | Exact dates vary by county and election. Voters should contact their county elections office to determine exact early voting dates. |
| Georgia | The fourth Monday before Election Day | Friday before Election Day | |
| Hawaii | 10 days before Election Day | 7pm on Election Day | State has all-mail voting as of 2020. Ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off at early voting center at listed dates. |
| Idaho | The third Monday before Election Day | 5pm the Friday before Election Day | Not all counties allow early voting. Voters should contact their county elections office for additional information. |
| Illinois | 40 days before Election Day | 1 day before Election Day | Voting beings 40 days prior in temporary locations and 15 days prior in permanent locations. |
| Indiana | 28 days before Election Day | 12pm the day before Election Day | |
| Iowa | 20 days before Election Day | 5pm the day before Election Day | If the polls do not open until noon on Election Day, voters may early vote (in-person absentee voting) at the county auditor's office from 8am to 11am. |
| Kansas | 7-20 days before Election Day (varies) | Up to 12pm the day before Election Day | Varies by county. Voters should contact their county elections office for additional information. |
| Kentucky | Thursday before Election Day | Saturday before Election Day | |
| Louisiana | 14 days before Election Day | 7 days before Election Day | |
| Maine | 30-45 days before Election Day | 3 business days before Election Day | Early voting begins whenever ballots are ready. |
| Maryland | The second Thursday before Election Day | Thursday before Election Day | |
| Massachusetts | 10-17 days before Election Day | The fourth business day before Election Day | Early voting begins 17 days prior to state elections and 10 days before presidential or state primaries. |
| Michigan | 40 days before Election Day | The day before Election Day | Varies by county. Voters should contact their county elections office for additional information. |
| Minnesota | 46 days before Election Day | 5pm the day before Election Day | |
| Mississippi | None | None | Mississippi does not have in-person early voting or no-excuse absentee voting. |
| Missouri | The second Tuesday before Election Day | Not specified | In-person no-excuse absentee voting takes place at locations designated by local county election authorities. A qualifying photo ID is required. |
| Montana | 30 days before Election Day | 12pm the day before Election Day | |
| Nebraska | 30 days before Election Day | Election Day | |
| Nevada | Third Saturday before Election Day | Friday before Election Day | State has all-mail voting. Ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off at early voting center at listed dates. |
| New Hampshire | None | None | New Hampshire does not offer in-person early or no-excuse absentee voting. |
| New Jersey | 10-45 days before Election Day | Sunday before Election Day | While early voting begins 10 days before the election, in-person absentee voting begins 45 days before the election. |
| New Mexico | 28 days before Election Day. | Saturday before Election Day. | |
| New York | 10 days before Election Day. | 2 days before Election Day. | |
| North Carolina | The third Thursday before Election Day or later | 3pm the Saturday before Election Day. | |
| North Dakota | 15 days before Election Day | The day before Election Day | May vary by county. Voters should contact their county elections office for additional information. |
| Ohio | 29 days before Election Day | 2pm the Monday before Election Day | Date will be altered if this date or the voter registration deadline falls on a Sunday or holiday. |
| Oklahoma | Wednesday (general elections) or Thursday (primaries) before Election Day. | 2pm the Saturday before Election Day. | |
| Oregon | None | None | Oregon lacks early in-person voting, but has all-mail voting. Ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off at early voting center at listed dates. |
| Pennsylvania | Varies by county | 5pm Tuesday before Election Day (see notes) | No state-wide early voting, but individual counties may make absentee and mail-in ballot applications available to 50 days before Election Day. These may be dropped off in county offices until 8pm on Election Day. |
| Rhode Island | 20 days before Election Day | The day before Election Day | |
| South Carolina | 14 days before Election Day | Day before Election Day | |
| South Dakota | 46 days before Election Day | 5pm the day before Election Day | |
| Tennessee | 20 days before Election Day | 5-7 days before Election Day | Five days for most elections, seven days for a presidential preference primary. |
| Texas | 17 days before Election Day | 4 days before Election Day | If the 17th day before the election is a national holiday or weekend, voting begins on the next business day. |
| Utah | 14 days before Election Day | Friday before Election Day | State has all-mail voting. Ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off at early voting center at listed dates. Ending date may be extended by election officials. |
| Vermont | 45 days before Election Day | 5pm the day before Election Day | |
| Virginia | 45 days before Election Day | 5pm Saturday before Election Day | |
| Washington | 18 days before Election Day | 8pm the day before Election Day | |
| West Virginia | 13 days before Election Day | 3 days before Election Day | |
| Wisconsin | 14 days (or less) before Election Day | Sunday before Election Day or earlier | |
| Wyoming | 40 days before Election Day | The day before Election Day |