🗳️ Ways to Vote
There's more than one way to cast your ballot. Here's how each option generally works.
🏛️ Election Day Voting
Voting in person on Election Day at your assigned polling place is the traditional way to vote. Polling hours vary by state and sometimes by county — see Find My Polling Place for how to locate yours and confirm its hours.
Curious how your vote actually gets recorded and counted? Learn how voting machines work ↗
⏱️ Early Voting
Most states offer some period of in-person early voting before Election Day, at designated locations, so you can vote without waiting for Election Day itself. Early voting windows (how many days, and which locations are open) vary by state and county.
✉️ Absentee & Mail Voting
"Absentee" historically meant voting by mail because you couldn't be present in person (travel, illness, military service); some states now mail a ballot to every registered voter automatically ("vote-by-mail"). Eligibility to vote by mail, how to request a ballot, and return deadlines all vary by state.
Many states also offer a ballot-tracking tool so you can confirm your mail ballot was received and accepted.
♿ Accessible Voting
Federal law requires polling places to offer accessible voting equipment and physical access. Many states also offer curbside voting, accessible mail-ballot formats, or in-person assistance for voters with disabilities. Federal law also generally allows a voter who needs assistance to bring a person of their choice to help them vote, with limited exceptions.
🎖️ Military & Overseas Voting
Under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), U.S. service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens can register and request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).
Federal Voting Assistance Program ↗