The week before November 5, the 2024 election date, a majority of voters across the country will be able to vote in person or by mail in most states, if that’s what they want. The map below has more information about early voting options.
Alabama became the first state to begin sending mail votes on September 11. It is one of 10 states that will begin sending ballots to voters more than 45 days before Election Day. Some countries will start early, electing people in September. Military and overseas ballots must be mailed 45 days before Election Day, so they will be mailed on September 21. Each state sets its own voter registration deadline.
America has seen dramatic expansion in the ability to vote early in person and through the mail since a century ago. The Center for Election Innovation and Research notes that in 2000, only 40% of voters had access to early voting, either in person or by mail. Currently, 97% have at least one option to vote for before Election Day.
Map of voting options by state for the 2024 election
This map shows where the options are for early voting and what options are available:
States that offer early voting and mail-in ballots to all voters
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia offer early voting options to all voters. Here are the states that offer early voting and mail-in voting for everyone, according to the Center for Election Research and Innovation.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California: All-mail elections: All active and registered voters receive ballots.
- Colorado: All-mail elections: All active, registered voters receive ballots.
- DC: All-mail elections: All active and registered voters receive a ballot.
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii: All-mail elections: All active and registered voters receive ballots.
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada: All-mail elections: All active, registered voters receive ballots.
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon: All-mail elections: All active and registered voters receive ballots.
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah: All-mail elections: All active, registered voters receive ballots.
- Vermont: All-mail elections: All active and registered voters receive ballots.
- Virginia
- Washington: All-mail elections: All active and registered voters receive ballots.
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
States that offer early voting to all but require a valid reason for their ballots
Below are the countries that have direct voting but require a valid reason to vote by mail.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
States where there is no early voting option available to all voters, and a valid reason to vote by mail is required
Four states do not offer early voting and require a valid reason to vote by mail, which means that not everyone in the state has the option to vote on any day other than Election Day.
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- West Virginia
Harris-Trump is a tight race in a state at war
In seven battleground states — the most competitive states in the country — the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is tight. CBS News polls Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania September shows people connected or separated by no more than 2 points, which is within the margin of error. CBS News too update regularly An estimate of support for Harris and Trump in seven battle states – three states and also Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia – which is likely to determine the winner of the presidency.
On September 10, Harris and Trump traveled to Philadelphia to first debate — and so far, it’s just a debate. Harris’ partner, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Trump’s VP Pick, Ohio Senator JD Vance, will meet in New York on October 1 for a debate host CBS News.
Republicans, Democrats prepare for election challenge
Republicans and Democrats have assembled teams of lawyers to deal with electoral challenges surrounding the election. As of 2020, more than two dozen counties in eight states have tried to block voter certification — including in Arizona, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. This year only, officials in the country war from Nevada and Michigan trying not to certify local races, is an early indication of what will happen in the days after November’s presidential election.
While Republican groups have pushed GOP voters to complete early and mail-in ballots, Trump often undermines their efforts when showing mail ballots as “treason.” He and his Republican allies and officials continue to raise the issue of election fraud and urge voters to distrust absentee voting. In June, the former president warned thousands at a rally in Detroit to “watch your vote” because “they” – the Democrats – would “destroy” and “end” the vote in November.
In Georgia last month, the state election board approved two rules that empower local officials in Georgia counties to question elections before local officials certify the results. The certification vote officially ends the canvassing process, where the ballots are counted and tabulated. The rule is unique in that council political officials are trying to expand the role of county-level voting certifying officials. The new rule has the potential to delay the certification of presidential results past the strict deadline of November 12 at 5pm ET.
