Elections & terms
early voting
In-person voting at an official site before election day. Available in most states, with the window and locations set by state law.
In full
Early voting spreads turnout across days rather than hours, shortening election-day lines and giving voters more chances to fix problems. Periods range from a few days to several weeks, and some states include weekend days. It is distinct from absentee voting, since the ballot is cast in person and processed like an election-day ballot.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.