You're standing in line at the grocery store, scrolling through your phone, and you see a headline about early voting lines stretching around the block in another state. It looks convenient. You think, "Maybe I’ll just go this Saturday and get it over with." But then you pause. Wait. Can you actually do that in your specific neck of the woods?
Honestly, the answer is a messy "almost."
If you’re looking for a simple yes-or-no on the question do all states have early voting, the reality is that the U.S. is currently sitting at a 47-out-of-50 situation. As we head deeper into 2026, the vast majority of the country has embraced some form of casting a ballot before the official Tuesday deadline. But three specific states are still holding out, sticking to a more traditional (some would say restrictive) model.
The Three Holdouts: Where "Early" Isn't an Option
Right now, if you live in Alabama, Mississippi, or New Hampshire, you’re out of luck if you want to just walk into a polling place early without a "good" reason. These are the only three states that do not offer no-excuse early in-person voting.
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. In most of the country, you can treat voting like a trip to the bank—show up when it fits your schedule. But in these three states, the law basically says: "Show up on Tuesday or prove to us why you can’t."
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Now, to be fair, they do have absentee voting. But there’s a catch. You usually need an excuse. We’re talking about things like:
- Being out of the county on Election Day.
- Having a physical disability or illness.
- Working a shift that spans the entire time polls are open.
If you don’t meet those criteria, you’re stuck with the Tuesday rush. Alabama, in particular, has been the center of some pretty heated legal battles over this. Groups like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund have been pushing for the Alabama Voting Rights Act (ALVRA) to change this, but as of early 2026, the status quo remains.
The "In-Person Absentee" Loophole
Here is where it gets confusing. Some people will tell you, "Hey, I voted early in Kentucky!" or "I did it in Virginia!" and they’re right—but the way they did it varies.
Technically, some states don’t call it "early voting." They call it in-person absentee voting.
Basically, you go to the clerk’s office, request an absentee ballot, fill it out right there, and hand it back. To you, the voter, it feels exactly like early voting. You’re in a booth, you’re marking a paper, and you’re done. But legally, the paperwork on the back end is handled differently.
States like Minnesota and South Dakota have been doing this "in-person absentee" thing for a long time. They offer some of the longest windows in the country—sometimes starting 45 days before the election.
Why the Map Keeps Changing
The landscape of do all states have early voting has shifted massively in just the last few years. If we were having this conversation back in 2018, the "No" list was much longer.
Connecticut was a huge recent addition. For a long time, they were the odd one out in the Northeast, requiring a constitutional amendment just to allow early voting. They finally got it across the finish line, and as of 2024/2025, Nutmeggers can finally vote early.
Why the push? It’s mostly about turnout and logistics. When you cram everyone into a 13-hour window on a Tuesday, things break. Machines jam. Lines get long. People with three jobs or kids can’t make it. By spreading it out over two weeks, election officials can breathe a little easier, even if it means they have to staff the buildings for longer.
The All-Mail States
Then you have the "Gold Standard" of early voting (depending on who you ask). Eight states—including California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington—don't even wait for you to ask. They just mail a ballot to every single registered voter.
In these states, "early voting" is just your kitchen table. You get the ballot weeks in advance, mark it while drinking coffee, and drop it in a secure box or the mail.
A Word on "No-Excuse" vs. "Excuse-Required"
This is the nuance that catches most people off guard.
- No-Excuse Early Voting: You show up. They check your ID (if required). You vote. No questions asked. (47 states + D.C.)
- Excuse-Required Absentee: You have to sign a statement saying why you can't be there Tuesday. (The "Holdout Three").
There’s also a weird middle ground. Some states, like Missouri, have a hybrid system. They might require an excuse to vote absentee by mail, but they allow "no-excuse" in-person voting starting a couple of weeks before the big day. It's like they want to see your face if you're going to vote early.
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Practical Steps: How to Check Your Status
Since you’re likely reading this because you want to actually go vote, don’t just take a map’s word for it. Laws change, and local officials sometimes change polling hours at the last minute.
- Check your registration first. You can't vote early if you aren't on the rolls. Most states require you to be registered 30 days out.
- Visit Vote.org or your Secretary of State’s website. They have the most up-to-date calendars.
- Look for "Satellite" locations. Large counties (think Harris County in Texas or Maricopa in Arizona) often open community centers or libraries as early voting hubs so you don't have to drive all the way to the downtown government building.
- Bring your ID. Even in states with early voting, the ID requirements are usually the same as on Election Day. If your state requires a photo ID, have it ready.
The reality of whether do all states have early voting is that we are closer to a national standard than ever before, but we aren't there yet. If you're in one of the 47, take advantage of the shorter lines. If you're in Alabama, Mississippi, or New Hampshire, make sure you've got your Tuesday morning coffee ready—you're going to need it for the wait.
The best move right now is to look up your specific county's "Early Voting Calendar." Don't wait until the Friday before the election, as that's actually when the lines are often the longest. The "sweet spot" is usually the middle of the first week of the early voting period.