With the expansion of early voting and mail-in ballot access across the United States, the term “election day” is increasingly outdated.
Early voting rules differ in each state and U.S. territory, but in states like Minnesota and South Dakota, voters can cast their ballots in person as early as 46 days before election day.
How Many Early Votes Have Been Cast So Far?
So far, more than 40 million Americans have already voted in the 2024 general election, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab. That represents more than 25 percent of the total popular vote in 2020.
Early voting figures this time around appear to be down from 2020, which saw the highest total voter turnout in over a century, with nearly 67 percent of eligible voters submitting their ballots on and before election day.
However, early voting is up in some parts of the country. On Saturday, the first day of early voting in New York state, votes cast in New York City surpassed the mark set in 2020.
Who Benefits from Early Voting?
Expanded ballot access makes it more convenient for working people, the elderly, and the disabled to take part in American democracy.
Election Day is not a federal holiday, though some states like New Jersey and New York do recognize it as a holiday. Early voting gives busy parents the opportunity to vote quickly before picking up their kids from school, and gig workers can exercise their democratic right in between shifts.
The elderly and disabled can vote by mail, instead of having to stand in line — in some cases, for hours.
Early voting is good for democracy. However, since 2012, there has been an increase in efforts to restrict early voting, often — but not exclusively — through voter identification requirements.
According to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice, close to 100 laws to restrict voting have been passed at the state level since the Supreme Court struck down a component of the Voting Rights Act requiring certain states with a history of racial discrimination to obtain federal approval before changing voting laws.
To find out how to vote, visit your local or state board of elections website. Information can also be obtained via Vote.org.
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