The voting season commences earlier than anticipated with 30 days remaining.

There are 90 days until Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

If Americans continue to vote as they have in the past two elections, many of them will have already cast their ballots before Election Day.

Eligible voters in seven battleground states can start voting as early as Sept. 6, with ballots being sent out to at least some voters the same month.

The upcoming months leading up to Election Day are not just a countdown, but the start of "election season."

Some Americans, such as military members and those with illnesses, have been permitted to vote early by states for a long time.

In some states, almost every voter casts a ballot by mail.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many states broadened their voter eligibility criteria.

In that year, the Planet Chronicle Voter Analysis revealed that 71% of voters cast their ballots before Election Day, with 30% voting early in-person and 41% voting by mail.

In the midterms, 57% of voters chose to cast their ballots early.

Officials emphasize that early voting is safe and secure, as no evidence of widespread fraud or corruption was found in recounts, investigations, and lawsuits following the 2020 election.

The distinction between "early in-person" and "mail" or "absentee" voting.

There are a few ways to vote before Election Day.

Early in-person voting is the process of casting a regular ballot at a voting center before Election Day.

Voting by mail has different processes and eligibility requirements depending on the state.

In California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and other states, registered voters receive ballots and send them back.

In most states, any registered voter can request a mail ballot and return it, which is also known as mail voting or absentee voting. The methods of returning the ballot may vary by state, including mail, drop boxes, and offices or facilities that accept mail ballots.

In 14 states, voters are required to provide an excuse to vote by mail, including illness, age, work hours, or being out of their home county on election day.

Some states delay the release of election results due to varying processes for tabulating ballots, with some beginning the count on election night.

The voting process in North Carolina commences on September 6th, and seven additional battleground states will follow suit that same month.

The provided list of early voting dates is for reference purposes only. To obtain accurate and current information on voter qualifications, procedures, and deadlines, visit Vote.gov and your state's election website.

Eligible voters in North Carolina will receive their absentee ballots first, starting from Sept. 6.

Early voting begins in seven additional battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada, the same month.

September deadlines

In-person early voting in bold.

Sept. 6

• North Carolina - Absentee ballots sent to voters

Sept. 16

• Pennsylvania - Mail-in ballots sent to voters

Sept. 17

• Georgia - Absentee ballots sent to military & overseas

Sept. 19

• Wisconsin - Absentee ballots sent

Sept. 20

• Military and overseas voters in Arkansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, and Wyoming received absentee ballots.
• Minnesota, South Dakota - In-person absentee voting begins
• Virginia - In-person early voting begins
• Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia - Absentee ballots sent

Sept. 21

• Military and overseas voters received absentee ballots in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington.
• Indiana, New Mexico - Absentee ballots sent
• Maryland, New Jersey - Mail-in ballots sent

Sept. 23

• Mississippi - In-person absentee voting begins & absentee ballots sent
• Oregon, Vermont - Absentee ballots sent

Sept. 26

• Illinois - In-person early voting begins
• Michigan - Absentee ballots sent
• Florida, Nevada - Mail-in ballots sent
• North Dakota - Absentee & mail-in ballots sent

Sept. 30

• Nebraska - Mail-in ballots sent

October deadlines

Oct. 4

• Connecticut - Absentee ballots sent

Oct. 6

• Michigan - In-person early voting begins
• Maine - In-person absentee voting begins & mail ballots sent
• California - In-person absentee voting begins & mail ballots sent
• Montana - In-person absentee voting begins
• Nebraska - In-person early voting begins
• Georgia - Absentee ballots sent
• Massachusetts - Mail-in ballots sent

Oct. 8

• California - Ballot drop-offs open
• New Mexico, Ohio - In-person absentee voting begins
• Indiana - In-person early voting begins
• Wyoming - In-person absentee voting begins & absentee ballots sent

Oct. 9

• Arizona - In-person early voting begins & mail ballots sent

Oct. 11

• Colorado - Mail-in ballots sent
• Arkansas, Alaska - Absentee ballots sent

Oct. 15

• Georgia - In-person early voting begins
• Utah - Mail-in ballots sent

Oct. 16

• Rhode Island, Kansas, Tennessee - In-person early voting begins
• Iowa - In-person absentee voting begins
• Oregon, Nevada - Mail-in ballots sent

Oct. 17

• North Carolina - In-person early voting begins

Oct. 18

• Washington, Louisiana - In-person early voting begins
• Hawaii - Mail-in ballots sent

Oct. 19

• Nevada, Massachusetts - In-person early voting begins
• Early in-person voting commences in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas.
• Colorado - Ballot drop-offs open

Oct. 22

• Hawaii, Utah - In-person early voting begins
• Missouri, Wisconsin - In-person absentee voting begins

Oct. 23

• West Virginia - In-person early voting begins

Oct. 24

• Maryland - In-person early voting begins

Oct. 25

• Delaware - In-person early voting begins

Oct. 26

• Michigan, Florida, New Jersey, New York - In-person early voting begins

Oct. 30

• Oklahoma - In-person early voting begins

Oct. 31

• Kentucky - In-person absentee voting begins