Early Voting Dates 2026: When It Starts in Every State

World · By SpikeToday · Oct 9, 2026, 05:37 UTC

Early in-person voting for the November 3, 2026 midterm elections has already begun in 14 states, and most of the rest open between October 13 and October 24. The busiest week is October 19 to 24, when Texas, Colorado, Florida, New York, Michigan and others start. Three states (Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire) have no early in-person voting, and Oregon votes by mail. Registration deadlines are in the table too, because in many states you can still register.

Early voting and registration by state

Dates are for the November 3 general election, from Ballotpedia's early voting table and its registration deadlines table, which link to each state's election office. Hours and locations are set locally, so check your county or state election website before you go.

"Register by" is the online deadline where a state has one, otherwise the mail or in-person deadline. "In person through Nov 3" means the state lets you register and vote on the same day, including on Election Day. Mail deadlines usually mean postmarked by that date.

Starting this week and next

• Tuesday, October 13: Georgia and Idaho.
• Wednesday, October 14: Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island and Tennessee.
• Thursday, October 15: North Carolina.
• Friday, October 16: Washington.
• Saturday, October 17: Massachusetts and Nevada.
• Monday, October 19: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, South Carolina and Texas.
• Tuesday, October 20: Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, Utah and Wisconsin.
• Wednesday, October 21: West Virginia.
• Thursday, October 22: Delaware and Maryland.
• Saturday, October 24: Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and New York.

Before you go

• Check that you're registered on your state election office's website. If your deadline has passed, see whether your state allows same-day registration (the "in person through Nov 3" entries above).
• Find an early voting site. They are often different from your Election Day polling place, and some counties open only a few. Your county election office lists them with hours.
• Bring ID if your state asks for it. Rules vary from a photo ID to no document at all. Your state's site says what counts.
• Look at a sample ballot first. Most counties post one online, so you can read the measures and candidates in advance.
• Mail ballots count too. If you asked for one, you can usually return it by mail, at a drop box or at an election office. Deadlines differ, so check the return date for your state.

Quick answers

When does early voting start in 2026?

It depends on the state. Virginia, Minnesota and South Dakota opened on September 18. Most states start between October 13 and October 24, and Kentucky and Oklahoma are last, on October 29 and 28.

When is the 2026 election?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. All 435 House seats and about a third of the Senate are on the ballot, along with many governors' races and state offices.

Can I still register to vote?

In about half the states, yes. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia let you register in person up to and including Election Day, and several others have online deadlines in mid to late October. See the table.

Does early voting end before Election Day?

Usually, yes, often two to four days before. In Texas it ends October 30, in Florida October 31, in Georgia October 30. A few states run through November 2 or 3.

Which states have no early in-person voting?

Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire. Oregon votes entirely by mail, and Pennsylvania offers in-person mail-ballot voting that varies by county.