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2022 Midterms Early Voting

Tips for Voting Early in the 2022 Midterms

October 28th is National Vote Early Day for the 2022 midterm election. Voters across the country are encouraged to cast their ballots on or around this date if their state offers an early voting period in advance of the November 8, 2022 election.

“Early voting” is a form of voting in which all eligible voters of a state have the chance to cast ballots before Election Day without needing an excuse or a ballot application.

  • Some states also refer to the early voting period as an “advanced voting” period
  • According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, voters are typically offered an average of 23 days to cast their ballots early
  • Early voting periods can be as short as three days in Kentucky to over forty days in some other states and may include weekend voting
  • Early voting periods usually end a few days before Election Day - check your state’s deadlines to vote early

Voting early in person can be just like voting on Election Day. Voters typically follow the same procedures, fill out the same ballots, and use the same equipment as they would on Election Day. The only difference may be the voter’s polling location in some states.

  • Check U.S. Vote Foundation’s “State Look-Up Tools” dropdown option to find your state’s early voting polling locations if they are available on a statewide level
  • Contact your local election official if your early polling locations are shared by voting precinct or as in-person absentee voting locations

Early voting may be carried out in person or, in some cases, by mail and by secure voter drop boxes. Voters in states with all-mail voting may simply return their ballots before Election Day to exercise a form of early voting.

Early voting can be quite similar to “in-person absentee voting” and some voters use the terms interchangeably. There are just subtle differences between early voting and in-person absentee voting. Depending on the state:

  • Voters may need to fill out an application for their in-person absentee ballot when they arrive at the polling location
  • In-person absentee voting may include certain requirements such as voter signatures
  • There may be fewer locations offered for in-person absentee voting

More and more states offer voters the chance to vote early, vote by mail, or vote with secure ballot drop boxes. Early voting is now available in almost every state and territory.

  • Only Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Mississippi do not offer an early voting period
  • There is a ballot question this year for Connecticut voters to decide whether to add an early voting period
  • Some states, such as New Jersey, have only recently begun to offer early voting to residents

Most voters have a chance to vote early if they so choose.

  • According to the U.S. Census, more than a quarter of voters availed themselves of the opportunity to vote early in person during an early voting period in 2020, a seven percent increase from 2016
  • Voteearly.org reports that 101,000,000 people voted early in 2020

In this 2022 election, eligible citizens will place candidates in office at the local, state, and national levels of government. With so many offices to fill, many Americans will want to “carpe diem” and seize an early day to cast their ballots at a time and place that works best with their schedule.

Regardless of which method of voting is most appealing and do-able for you, plan ahead. Vote early on Friday, October 28th, or finalize your decision of how to vote on that date. Make your plan to vote through U.S. Vote Foundation to be sure that...

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