Voter registration and early voting: Key dates and deadlines in the 2026 elections

The country is preparing to vote for a stream of candidates down the ballot in November, while millions have already cast their votes or are planning to do so ahead of the general election.Early voting is underway in multiple states, while deadlines to register to vote are looming in others. Alabama There is no traditional early voting in Alabama. Qualifying residents, such as those who are disabled, may cast absentee ballots.Election officials must receive a request for an absentee ballot by Oct. 27 if the request is sent by mail. Officials must receive an application request submitted in person by Oct. 29.Election officials must receive completed absentee ballots from voters by noon on Election Day if they are sent through the mail. Election officials must receive the completed ballot by the close of business, but no later than 5 p.m., if voters deliver it to election officials in person.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 19.Alaska In Alaska, absentee in-person and early voting take place from Oct. 19 through Nov. 3. Absentee ballots cast by mail can be postmarked up through Nov. 3 or received by election officials by the end of that day. Alaska is one of multiple states that use a “no excuse” absentee voting system, meaning any resident can vote absentee without meeting certain requirements, such as a disability.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 4.Arizona In Arizona, early voting takes place from Oct. 7 through Oct. 30.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 5.Arkansas In Arkansas, early in-person voting takes place from Oct. 19 through Nov. 2. Oct. 27 is the deadline for absentee ballots to be sent by mail or electronic means.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 5.California In California, early voting begins Oct. 5. Since the timeline of early voting varies by county, voters should contact their county elections office. The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 19 for online and mail registration, and Nov. 2 for in-person registration.Colorado In-person early voting centers are open beginning at least Oct. 19 and will continue through Election Day. Mail-in ballots will be sent to Colorado voters between Oct. 2 and Oct. 9, or residents can pick up a ballot at their county clerk’s office. Drop boxes will accept mail ballots through Election Day.Colorado’s voter registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 26 for online and by mail registration and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Connecticut In Connecticut, early voting takes place from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 16.Delaware In Delaware, early voting takes place from Oct. 22 through Nov. 1.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 10.District of Columbia In the country’s capital city, early in-person voting takes place from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1.Mail-in ballots are also automatically sent to all registered district voters, with residents given the option to mail them back to election authorities or place them in a local drop box.Florida In Florida, the mandatory early-voting period runs from Oct. 24 through Oct. 31. Residents should contact their supervisor of elections for optional days of early voting specific to counties.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 5. Floridians have until Oct. 22 to request a mail-in ballot. The ballot must be received, regardless of postmark, by the supervisor of elections’ office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.Georgia In Georgia, early voting runs from Oct. 13 to Oct. 30.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 5.Hawaii In Hawaii, early voting in-person runs from Oct. 20 through Election Day, excluding Sundays.The state’s deadline for paper voter registration applications to be received by election officials is Oct. 26. Those who miss the registration deadline can participate in same-day voter registration at voter service centers, beginning 10 days prior and through Election Day.Idaho In Idaho, the mandatory early voting period runs from Oct. 13 through Oct. 30. Residents can view details about the breakdown for early voting periods by county here.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 23 for mail-in and online registration and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Illinois In Illinois, early voting runs from Sept. 24 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 6 for mail-in registration, Oct. 18 for online registration, and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Indiana In Indiana, early voting runs from Oct. 6 through Oct. 31.The state’s voter registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 5.Iowa In Iowa, in-person and absentee early voting runs from Oct. 14 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 19 for online and by mail registration and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Kansas In Kansas, early voting runs from Oct. 14 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 13.Kentucky In Kentucky, counties that offer early voting conduct the process from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 5.Louisiana In Louisiana, early voting runs from Oct. 20 through Oct. 27. There will be no early voting on Sunday, Oct. 25.The deadline for in-person and by-mail registration is Oct. 5. For those who register to vote online at Geaux Vote, the deadline is Oct. 13.Maine In Maine, early voting runs from Oct. 4 through Oct. 29.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 13 for online and by mail registration and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Maryland In Maryland, early voting runs from Oct. 22 through Oct. 29.The deadline to register to vote online or by mail is Oct. 13. However, same-day registration will also be available by using a provisional ballot.Massachusetts In Massachusetts, early voting runs from Oct. 17 through Oct. 30.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 24.Michigan In Michigan, the mandatory early voting runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1. However, the early voting period varies by county. Residents can find more information about dates here.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 19 for online and by mail registration and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Minnesota In Minnesota, early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 21 for online and by mail registration and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Mississippi There is no traditional early voting in Mississippi. Absentee voting is available to the elderly, disabled people and their caretakers, and others.In-person absentee voting began Sept. 19 and runs through Oct. 31. Absentee ballots sent by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and be received by election officials within five business days of Nov. 3.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 4.Missouri In Missouri, early voting is conducted through absentee voting for residents who meet certain qualifications, such as confinement due to illness or disability.Absentee ballots must be returned by Oct. 21 if sent by mail. In-person absentee voting begins Oct. 20 and runs through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 7.Montana In Montana, early voting runs from Oct. 4 through Nov. 3.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 4 to register by mail and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Nebraska In Nebraska, early voting runs from Oct. 4 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 16 for online and by mail registration and Oct. 23 for in-person registration.Nevada In Nevada, early voting runs from Oct. 17 through Oct. 30.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 29 for online registration, Oct. 6 to register by mail, and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.New Hampshire There is no traditional early voting in New Hampshire. Qualifying residents, including those unable to vote in person for religious reasons or disability, may vote absentee.The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 12:00 p.m. Nov. 2. The deadline to request and return an absentee ballot in person is 5 p.m. Nov. 2.Absentee ballots delivered through the mail should be received by election officials by 5 p.m. on Nov. 3.New Jersey In New Jersey, early voting runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 13 for online, in-person, and mail registration.New Mexico In New Mexico, early voting runs from Oct. 6 through Nov. 31.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 6 for online and by mail registration and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.New York In New York, early voting runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 24.North Carolina In North Carolina, in-person early voting runs from Oct. 15 through Oct. 31.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 9.North Dakota In North Dakota, early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Nov. 2. The state does not require voter registration.Ohio In Ohio, early voting runs from Oct. 5 through Nov. 1.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 4.Oklahoma In Oklahoma, early voting runs from Oct. 28 through Oct. 31.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 9.Oregon In Oregon, the state runs on an all-mail-in ballot system. The state begins sending mail ballots to voters on Oct. 14, and voters can either drop off ballots at official sites on Election Day or return them by mail. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 13.Pennsylvania In Pennsylvania, voters have the option of requesting, completing, and returning mail-in ballots all at once before Election Day in their local County Election Office.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 19.Rhode Island In Rhode Island, early voting runs from Oct. 14 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 4.South Carolina In South Carolina, early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 4 for online, in-person, and mail registration.South Dakota In South Dakota, there is no traditional early in-person voting, though any resident can cast an absentee ballot at the county auditor’s office from Sept. 18 to Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 19.Tennessee In Tennessee, early voting runs from Oct. 14 through Oct. 29.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 4.Texas In Texas, early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 5.Utah In Utah, early voting runs from Oct. 20 through Oct. 30.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 23 for online and by-mail applications and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.Vermont In Vermont, early voting runs from Sept. 19 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Nov. 2.Virginia In Virginia, early in-person voting runs from Sept. 18 through Oct. 31.The state’s voter registration deadline is 11 days before the general election, although same-day registration will also be available by using a provisional ballot.Washington In Washington, early voting runs from Oct. 16 through Nov. 2The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 26 for online and by-mail registration and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.West Virginia In West Virginia, early voting runs from Oct. 21 through Oct. 31. The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 13.Wisconsin In Wisconsin, early voting runs from Oct. 20 through Nov. 1.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 14 for online and by-mail registration and Oct. 30 for in-person registration.COOK POLITICAL REPORT PROJECTS DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AS RACES SHIFTWyoming In Wyoming, early voting runs from Oct. 6 through Nov. 2.The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 19 to register by mail. Residents can still register in person through Election Day.