How to Vote Early
It’s not too complicated - we are here to show you the way!
Voting actually begins before Election Day -- and this year, this is more important than ever. It’s critical to vote early so that you can be sure your vote will be counted, especially if you’re voting by mail. As Michelle Obama said at the DNC: “We've got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure they're received. And then, make sure our friends and families do the same.”
It’s important to make sure you follow the rules, so your ballot doesn’t get discounted on a technicality. Voting early isn’t necessarily a simple process, but it’s not too complicated either. Here’s how to vote early in your state.
Florida
If you haven’t already, register to vote (deadline is October 5th)! You can register to vote online here. If you are unsure whether you are registered, you can check here.
If you’d like, you can vote early in person from October 24th to October 31st at locations which you can find on the website of your Supervisor of Elections. If you do so, bring a valid photo ID and a signature identification.
Alternatively, you can vote by mail. Request a ballot by mail here (deadline for request to be mailed is October 24). Request your ballot as soon as possible so that you can vote as soon as possible.
Once you’ve received your ballot, read the instructions carefully and follow them completely. Don’t just vote for Joe -- be sure to vote for other Democratic candidates on the ballot too!
To mail in your ballot, follow all the instructions. The ballot must be received (not sent) by 7:00 pm on Election Day (November 3rd). You can also drop off your ballot at a drop box in your county. You can find the location of these drop boxes on the website of your Supervisor of Elections
Michigan
If you haven’t already, register to vote! You can register to vote online here. The deadline for registering online or by mail is October 19th. The deadline for registering in-person is November 3rd.
Request an absentee ballot here (deadline is October 30th).
You can return your absentee ballot in person at your local clerk’s office by 8:00 pm on Election Day (you can find the location of your local clerk’s office here). Your local clerk may set up secure drop boxes where you can submit your ballot.
Alternatively, you can vote by mail. To mail in your ballot, follow the instructions on your ballot. The ballot must be received (not just sent) by your local clerk’s office by 8:00 pm on Election Day.
Once you’ve received your ballot, read the instructions carefully and follow them completely. Don’t just vote for Joe -- be sure to vote for other Democratic candidates on the ballot too!
Pennsylvania
If you haven’t already, register to vote (deadline is October 19th)! You can register to vote online here. If you are unsure whether you are registered, you can check here.
Request an absentee ballot here (deadline is October 27th).
If you belong to certain categories (see here), can request an absentee ballot here (deadline is October 27th). You can cast your absentee ballot in person from September 14th to October 27th. If you’ve already voted at your polling place before, you do not need to bring an ID. Otherwise, you must show an ID to vote.
Alternatively, you can vote by mail. Request a ballot by mail by filling out this form.
Once you’ve received your ballot, read the instructions carefully and follow them completely. Don’t just vote for Joe -- be sure to vote for other Democratic candidates on the ballot too!
To mail in your ballot, follow the instructions on your ballot. The ballot must be received (not just sent) by your county election office no later than 8:00 pm on Election Day.
Arizona
If you haven’t already, register to vote (deadline is October 5th)! You can register to vote online here. If you are unsure whether you are registered, you can check here.
Request a ballot by mail here (deadline is October 23rd). Request your ballot as soon as possible so that you can vote as soon as possible.
Once you’ve received your ballot, read the instructions carefully and follow them completely. Don’t just vote for Joe -- be sure to vote for other Democratic candidates on the ballot too!
If you’d like, you can vote early in person from October 7th to October 30th by submitting your ballot at the office of the County Recorder or on-site voting locations designated by the County Recorder (You can find locations here). If you do so, bring an ID (refer to requirements from the Arizona Secretary of State here).
Alternatively, you can mail in your ballot. To do so, follow the instructions on your ballot. The ballot must be received (not sent) by 7:00 pm on Election Day. You can mail it to your County Election Office or drop it off in a local drop box.
Ohio
If you haven’t already, register to vote (deadline is October 5th)! You can register to vote online here. If you are unsure whether you are registered, you can check here.
If you’d like, you can vote early in person from October 6th to November 2nd at locations which you can find here. If you do so, bring a valid photo ID. If you do not have one, you can provide the last four digits of your Social Security number to cast a provisional ballot.
Alternatively, you can vote by mail. Request a ballot by mail by filling out this form and mailing it to your county board of elections (more detailed instructions on mail-in voting in Ohio can be found here).
Once you’ve received your ballot, read the instructions carefully and follow them completely. Don’t just vote for Joe -- be sure to vote for other Democratic candidates on the ballot too!
To mail in your ballot, follow the instructions on your ballot. The ballot must be postmarked no later than the day before Election Day. You can also deliver your ballot in person to your county board of elections.
Texas
If you haven’t already, register to vote (deadline is October 5)! You can register to vote online here. If you are unsure whether you are registered, you can check here. Texas does not offer Election Day voter registration.
If you’d like, you can vote early in person from October 13–30 at locations which you can find here. If you do so, bring a valid photo ID. If you do not have one, you can bring a birth certificate; valid voter registration certificate; or a current utility bill, government check, bank statement, or paycheck with your name and address.
Alternatively, you can vote by mail. Request a ballot by mail by filling out this form and mailing it to your county voting clerk by October 23. Voters can request a ballot by mail if they are over 65, have a disability, will be absent from the country from when early voting begins through election day, or are in jail. Anyone outside the county must have their ballot by mail sent to an address outside the county.
Once you’ve received your ballot, read the instructions carefully and follow them completely. Don’t just vote for Joe -- be sure to vote for other Democratic candidates on the ballot too!
To mail in your ballot, follow the instructions on your ballot.
Voters can enter their personal information here to check their polling location and other key voter info.
Georgia
If you have not already, register to vote by October 5. Georgia residents can go here to check their voter registration or register online to vote, and here to register by mail to vote.
Applications to register to vote submitted by mail should be sent to the resident’s county’s registrar officer which can be found here.
Voters may vote early in person from October 12–30, 2020.
Persons voting early in person should check here for their advance polling location.
Alternatively, you can vote by mail if you request a ballot by October 30 from your county registrar office. Vote by mail ballots can be requested in person, online with valid photo ID, or by mail.
Once you’ve received your ballot, read the instructions carefully and follow them completely. Don’t just vote for Joe -- be sure to vote for other Democratic candidates on the ballot too!
To mail in your ballot, follow the instructions on your ballot.
For more election help, visit “My Voter Page” for all your election needs.
Wisconsin
If you have not already, register by mail or online to vote by October 14 or you can register in person by October 30. Wisconsin residents who vote in person may also register in person at their polling location on Election Day, November 3.
Wisconsin residents can check their voter registration status here with their first name, last name, and date of birth before submitting new registration.
New residents can register to vote here. Online registration is available to anyone with an unexpired, up to date Wisconsin Driver’s License or State ID. Otherwise, you should follow the steps on the website that will lead you to instructions to submit your registration application by mail or in person with their local municipal clerk.
If you’d like, you may vote early in person (absentee in-person voting) October 20–November 1. Search for your polling location here.
Voting in person, early or on election day, requires a valid photo ID. Voters without valid photo ID may cast a provisional ballot but then must present a valid photo ID to their local municipal clerk in person by 4:00 p.m. on the Friday after the election for the ballot to be counted.
Alternatively, you may vote by mail. Wisconsin will mail all registered voters an application to vote absentee by mail prior to the election.
Should voters choose to vote by mail, they need to completely fill out the form and submit their request for a mail in ballot to their local municipal clerk by October 29, 2020.
Once you’ve received your ballot, read the instructions carefully and follow them completely. Don’t just vote for Joe -- be sure to vote for other Democratic candidates on the ballot too!
To mail in your ballot, follow the instructions on your ballot.