When and How to Vote in All 50 States

To help voters across the United States get the information they need to vote in this year's election, Axios is launching an interactive resource, based on research by the nonpartisan election reform group RepresentUs. "This election year, voters need to take more time and effort to navigate the challenges of a pandemic," says U.S. Elections Assistance Commissioner Donald Palmer. Early voting will have a greater impact in the event that the election is hampered by problems with the U.S. Postal Service, ballot shortages, confusion, lawsuits, or delays. The state of North Carolina will be the first to send out absentee ballots on Sept. 4, and Minnesota and South Dakota will be the first to let voters cast ballots early in person starting Sept. 18. Meanwhile, voters in Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, and New York require an excuse to vote absentee — although New York is poised to revise that mandate and more may follow. Eleven states require absentee ballots to be notarized, have a witness signature, or be submitted with a copy of an identity — or be rejected. California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia are automatically sending voters mail-in ballots in addition to applications. Using early voting options could help limit crowds and long lines on election day, and reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.