What is the difference between early voting and absentee ballots

Four more have adopted it for November, and Trump has been particularly critical of it. People have been voting by mail in the U. This is a new series from the AP dedicated to answering commonly asked questions from our audience about the U. Sections U.

Science Technology Business U. Request yours online. You have until 5pm on the Thursday before Election Day to request an absentee ballot for an election. You can also request to vote absentee for multiple elections or even the entire year when requesting to vote absentee. Voters who are indefinitely confined, meaning they have a difficult time getting to the polls due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability, can request that a ballot be automatically sent to them for each election.

Voters on the list must return their ballot each election or they will be dropped from the absentee ballot rolls. Absentee ballots are mailed 3 weeks before local spring elections and 47 days before national fall elections. Find instructions on how to complete your absentee ballot here. Be sure to follow the instructions to ensure your ballot is counted.

Watch this video below to learn more about successfully completing your absentee ballot. Absentee voters must have someone witness them completing their absentee ballot. Your witness will need to sign and provide their address on the certificate of your return envelope. The witness signature confirms the voter voted the ballot and placed it in the envelope for return.

Your witness can be any adult U. You need to get your absentee ballot in time to return it by your state's deadline. Sometimes circumstances make it hard or impossible for you to vote on Election Day. But your state may let you vote during a designated early voting period.

Most states have early voting. This lets registered voters vote on specified dates before Election Day. In some states, you may cast an absentee ballot in person before Election Day. To do this, you must request an absentee ballot from your state. Your state may require you to submit a valid excuse too. This early voting chart lists time frames for states that offer early voting. The rules change from state to state. Make sure you know yours if you plan to vote early or in-person absentee.

The best place to check is with your state or local election office. Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.