Early voting in various states starts this week. The table below gives the schedule for early voting according to state. A majority of states do not require any excuse to allow its voters to vote early. Check your local election office for more details.
|
State |
Early voting |
Approx date for 2012 |
Reason required |
| Alabama | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| Alaska | Starts 15 days before election day at the Regional Elections Office | October 22 | Not required |
| Arizona | Starts 26 days before election day | October 11 | Not required |
| Arkansas | Starts 15 days before election day usually at the county clerk’s office | October 22 | Not required |
| California | Start dates vary and are provided on the sample ballot sent by the county | N/A | Not required |
| Colorado | Starts 15 days before election day | October 22 | Not required |
| Connecticut | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| Delaware | In-person absentee voting allowed | N/A | Valid reason required |
| Washington D.C | Starts 15 days before election day | October 22 | Not required |
| Florida | Starts 15 days before election day | October 22 | Not required |
| Georgia | Monday to Friday of week before election day | October 29 – November 2 | Valid reason required |
| Hawaii | Starts two Tuesdays before election day | October 23 | Not required |
| Idaho | In-person absentee voting allowed as soon as ballots available | N/A | Not required |
| Illinois | Starts 15 days before election day | October 22 | Not required |
| Indiana | Starts 29 days before election day | October 8 | Not required |
| iowa | Early voting starts as soon as ballots are available | N/A | Not required |
| Kansas | Starts Tuesday before election day. Some counties start 20 days before election day | October 30 or October 17 | Not required |
| Kentucky | Starts at least 12 days before election day | October 27 | Valid reason required |
| Louisiana | Starts 14 days before election day and ends 7 days before election day | October 23 – October 30 | Not required |
| Maine | Starts as soon as ballots are available | N/A | Not required |
| Maryland | Starts second Saturday before election day | October 27 | Not required |
| Massachusetts | Early voting using absentee ballot as soon as ballots are available | N/A | Valid reason required |
| Michigan | Early voting not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| Minnesota | In-person absentee voting starts 46 days before election day | September 21 | Valid reason required |
| Mississippi | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| Missouri | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| Montana | Early voting using absentee ballot as soon as ballots are available | N/A | Not required |
| Nebraska | Starts 35 days before election day | October 2 | Not required |
| Nevada | Schedules vary by county | N/A | Not required |
| New Hampshire | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| New Jersey | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| New Mexico | Starts 28 days before election day | October 9 | Not required |
| New York | Early voting using absentee ballot as soon as ballots are available | N/A | Valid reason required |
| North Carolina | Starts 3rd Thursday before election day. Known as One-stop absentee voting | October 18 | Not required |
| North Dakota | Schedules differ according to county | N/A | Not required |
| Ohio | Starts 35 days before election day | October 2 | Not required |
| Oklahoma | Occurs on Monday and Friday before election day | October 2 and October 5 | Not required |
| Oregon | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| Rhode Island | Not allowed | N/A | N/A |
| South Carolina | Starts as soon as ballots are available | N/A | Valid reason required |
| South Dakota | Early voting using absentee ballot | N/A | Not required |
| Tennessee | Starts 20 days before election day | October 17 | Not required |
| Texas | Starts 17 days before election day | October 20 | Not required |
| Utah | Starts 14 days before election day | October 23 | Not required |
| Vermont | Starts 45 days before election day | September 22 | Not required |
| Virginia | Starts as soon as ballots are available | N/A | Valid reason required |
| Washington | Starts 18 days before election day | October 19 | Valid reason required |
| West Virginia | Starts 13 days before election day | October 24 | Not required |
| Wisconsin | Absentee ballot starts as soon as ballots are available | N/A | Not required |
| Wyoming | Starts 40 days before election day | September 27 | Not required |
Update: Check out the in-person absentee voting location in VA here.