What Does Early Voting Mean? First In-Person Votes For The Presidential Election Cast In Three Pivotal US States

Early voting for the 2024 presidential election kicked off on Friday, September 20, in three crucial states. Virginia was the first to open its in-person voting sites, which will operate until November 2. Minnesota and South Dakota have also started allowing voters to submit their absentee ballots in person, rather than by mail. Here’s what you need to know about Early Voting as Americans begin casting their ballots ahead of Election Day:

What is Early Voting? How to Participate

Early Voting enables citizens to cast their ballots in person well before Election Day, offering a more flexible voting experience. This process began in several states, with in-person voting starting weeks or even months before the main election. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, around 40% of total votes in the last presidential election were cast during the Early Voting period.

Absentee Voting also offers a way to vote early, either by mailing in ballots or dropping them off at designated locations. In Minnesota and South Dakota, voters can now hand in their absentee ballots in person at an election office or a designated drop-off site. Additionally, states like Idaho, Maryland, New York, and West Virginia are required to fulfill absentee ballot requests by Friday, while Delaware, Indiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, and some Oklahoma counties will send absentee ballots by Saturday.