What to know as the first voting in the presidential election gets underway early next month

The 2024 political season is set to be one of the most tumultuous in history, but in just one month, voters will be able to cast their ballots in the presidential election.

While each state has its own rules for voting by mail and in-person early voting ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5, some voters can submit their ballots as early as 50 days in advance.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are neck and neck in the race to the finish line, with the average of the latest polls showing them virtually tied with less than three months to go.

Most states offer multiple ways for people to vote in the upcoming election. The most common option is to vote on Election Day, but there are also options for voting by mail, early in-person voting, and voting by mail, depending on the state.

According to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, 47 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands offer all voters the opportunity to vote early in person prior to Election Day.

That’s true in eight states and the District of Columbia, where elections are largely conducted by mail, with some in-person voting options for voters who prefer that.

The Democrats haven’t even had their convention yet, and Harris and Trump won’t face off in a debate until September 10. By then, some voters will likely already have their ballots in hand.

Both campaigns have encouraged their supporters this year to vote in whatever way works best for them before Election Day, after some Republicans rejected the mail-in voting option in 2020 amid criticism from Trump.

It’s important for voters to check their state’s specific requirements and deadlines for voting before Election Day. But here’s what voters need to know before the very first vote begins:

Voters should check with their state to see what options are available to them if they want to receive a mail-in ballot for the November election. Depending on the state, some voters are eligible to vote by mail without an excuse. There are also some options to request a mail-in ballot in person and fill it out in the same visit. Other states will already automatically send ballots by mail.

The first ballots for the election will begin to be mailed out in the state of North Carolina, which is in question, starting September 6. These ballots will be sent by county boards of election to eligible voters who have submitted a mail-in ballot form.

In Alabama, voting by mail begins just days later, on September 11.

In the crucial state of Pennsylvania, there is no early voting option, but depending on the county, some voters in this crucial state can vote by mail or by post up to 50 days in advance, until September 16.

Just a few days after that, early voting options will become available in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Virginia on September 20. That includes early in-person voting or voting by mail in Minnesota. In Virginia, voters can cast their ballots early in person at their local county registrar’s office. And in South Dakota, voting by mail begins.

New York is also beginning to mail ballots to some eligible voters, including military personnel, while West Virginia is beginning to mail ballots. Kentucky is also beginning to mail some absentee voters.

Several states offer early access to polling places or county offices to cast ballots in person before Election Day on November 5.

The first ballots will be mailed out in New Jersey on September 21, but some counties could take action even earlier. Idaho and Louisiana are also starting to mail out ballots.

Two days later, on September 23, ballots will be mailed out again in Maryland, Mississippi and Vermont. On September 24, ballots will also be mailed out in Missouri.

Early voting begins in Illinois on September 26, requiring the option to be available 40 days before Election Day. Depending on how and when they are requested, ballots will also be mailed to some eligible voters in Florida, Michigan and North Dakota.

The first ballots in Nebraska will be mailed to those who requested them starting September 30.

Once October rolls around, 19 states will expand early voting by mail. And 34 states will begin early voting in person or by mail that month.

Elections by mail

Eight states and the District of Columbia conduct their elections primarily by mail.

Eight states and the District of Columbia conduct their elections primarily by mail, but there are also locations for people who want to drop off their ballots in person, etc.

In California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington, elections are held by mail, but each state has its own schedule and rules for when voters can drop off their ballot in person if they prefer to do so rather than mail their ballot.