Continuing in our Issues in Election Administration series, today Project Vote is releasing a new policy paper on Early Voting.
Early voting policies allow voters to cast their ballots in person, but at alternative times and locations, in addition to Election Day at their traditional polling place. It is one of the fastest growing trends in election administration, now in effect in 30 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, several states offer no-excuse absentee voting—which increases the flexibility for eligible citizens seeking to cast a ballot—and two states conduct their elections entirely by mail.
“The idea that Election Day can only be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November seems to be a thing of the past,” writes Project Vote Legislative Director Estelle Rogers. “The busy and complicated lives of American voters have demanded other choices.”
In this new policy paper, Rogers provides a comprehensive overview of this issue. She explains the various policies in place across the country, makes recommendations for best practices, and counters the arguments that partisan opponents use to reject or curtail early voting hours. In addition, this paper reviews the status of early voting laws in all 50 states.
Early voting is just one of the election reforms Project Vote and our partners are working to achieve through research, media initiatives, and advocacy efforts. Learn more at www.projectvote.org.