(Is your state one of thirty-one states that allow in person voting before Election Day?)
If you plan to vote, early voting is a good technique to avoid standing in line on election day. Georgia began early voting last week, and Atlanta is showing a strong turn-out of early voters. Louisville , Ky and Fairfax, Va report high early turnouts. Illinois begins early voting today (Monday, October 13). Beginning next week in Texas, you can cast your vote curbside, without getting out of your car. The rules, times, and places differ from state to state, but every state allows an early vote in person or by mail,some with approved excuses, some without any reason.
There are two methods of voting early. The oldest and traditional method is an absentee ballot. All states offer absentee voting, but many require excuses. Those that do will inform you of accepted reasons; call your local county's voting registrar's office. Use these accepted reasons when requesting a ballot, to make sure your vote will be counted!
The national conference of State legislatures provides a list of states for the types of early voting at their website, www.ncsl.org.
The newest method of early voting lets you vote in person, usually at the local election office or designated sites, or a central polling place at specified times. States that permit early voting do not require any reason for casting your ballot early. You cast your vote exactly as you would on election day.
This year, 20 percent or more of all voters nationwide may vote early! Early voting is especially important in battleground states, and the get out the vote drive now extends for two weeks!
Here are fast state facts about voting early:
31 states allow no-excuse pre-Election Day in-person voting - either early voting on a voting machine or in-person absentee voting.
28 states allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail.
22 states and the District of Columbia require an excuse to vote absentee by mail.
16 states do not allow early or in-person absentee voting.
4 states and the District of Columbia require an excuse for in-person absentee voting.
1 state is all vote-by mail.
Here's a summary of early voting systems for Mississippi and several nearby states.
Mississippi has no established early voting system. Voters, may, however, vote absentee by mail, with a valid excuse. In 2007, the state allowed in-person absentee voting at the local circuit clerk's office; my information for this year's election is incomplete.
Alabama's rules for early voting are the same as Mississippi's. Louisiana law permits early voting beginning 14 days prior to the general election. All voters may freely vote early at their parish Registrar's office, from 8:30 am to 6 pm, Monday Friday. Identification is required.
No excuses are needed in Georgia to vote early in person or by mail. Note: mail-in ballots must be received by poll closing on election day.
According to South Carolina's Secretary of State, voters may apply for an absentee ballot and vote the same day at local Voter Registration Offices. Valid reasons: the voter must be a student, in the military, physically disabled, over 65 years of age, unable to vote on Election Day due to his employment, or satisfy one of the other requirements. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person is the day before the election. The last day to receive mail-in ballots is four days after election day.
In Tennessee, early voting in person or by mail begins 20 days before election day and ends five days before election day. Mail-in voting is only allowed for those whose reasons meet the state's requirements. In person voting may be due freely, purely for the voters' convenience, during designated times and places.
Vote early if your state permits. Lock your vote in!
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