The country is preparing to vote for a stream of candidates down the ballot in November, while millions have already cast their votes or are planning to do so ahead of the general election.
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millions → prepare → election
Early voting is underway in multiple states, while deadlines to register to vote are looming in others.
Here are some key deadlines and dates for voting in the 2026 midterm elections.
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deadlines → register → elections
Qualifying residents, such as those who are disabled, may cast absentee ballots.
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who → qualify → ballots
Election officials must receive a request for an absentee ballot by Oct. 27 if the request is sent by mail.
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request → receive → mail
Officials must receive an application request submitted in person by Oct. 29.
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Officials → receive → Oct.
Election officials must receive completed absentee ballots from voters by noon on Election Day if they are sent through the mail.
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they → receive → mail
Election officials must receive the completed ballot by the close of business, but no later than 5 p.m., if voters deliver it to election officials in person.
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voters → receive → person
In Alaska, absentee in-person and early voting take place from Oct. 19 through Nov. 3.
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voting → take → Nov.
Absentee ballots cast by mail can be postmarked up through Nov. 3 or received by election officials by the end of that day.
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ballots → cast → day
Alaska is one of multiple states that use a “no excuse” absentee voting system, meaning any resident can vote absentee without meeting certain requirements, such as a disability.
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resident → use → disability
In Arizona, early voting takes place from Oct. 7 through Oct. 30.
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voting → take → Oct.
In Arkansas, early in-person voting takes place from Oct. 19 through Nov. 2. Oct. 27 is the deadline for absentee ballots to be sent by mail or electronic means.
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ballots → take → mail
In California, early voting begins Oct. 5.
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voting → begin → California
Since the timeline of early voting varies by county, voters should contact their county elections office.
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voters → vary → office
In-person early voting centers are open beginning at least Oct. 19 and will continue through Election Day.
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centers → begin → Day
Mail-in ballots will be sent to Colorado voters between Oct. 2 and Oct. 9, or residents can pick up a ballot at their county clerk’s office.
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residents → mail → office
Drop boxes will accept mail ballots through Election Day.
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boxes → accept → Day
In Connecticut, early voting takes place from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1.
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voting → take → Nov.
The state’s
Delaware
In Delaware, early voting takes place from Oct. 22 through Nov. 1.
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voting → take → Nov.
District of Columbia
In the country’s capital city, early in-person voting takes place from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1.
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voting → take → Nov.
Mail-in ballots are also automatically sent to all registered district voters, with residents given the option to mail them back to election authorities or place them in a local drop box.
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residents → mail → box
In Florida, the mandatory early-voting period runs from Oct. 24 through Oct. 31.
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period → run → Oct.
Residents should contact their supervisor of elections for optional days of early voting specific to counties.
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Residents → contact → counties
Floridians have until Oct. 22 to request a mail-in ballot.
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Floridians → have → ballot
The ballot must be received, regardless of postmark, by the supervisor of elections’ office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
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ballot → receive → Day
In Georgia, early voting runs from Oct. 13 to Oct. 30.
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voting → run → Oct.
In Hawaii, early voting in-person runs from Oct. 20 through Election Day, excluding Sundays.
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voting → run → Sundays
The state’s deadline for paper voter registration applications to be received by election officials is Oct. 26.
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applications → receive → officials
Those who miss the registration deadline can participate in same-day voter registration at voter service centers, beginning 10 days prior and through Election Day.
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who → miss → Day
In Idaho, the mandatory early voting period runs from Oct. 13 through Oct. 30.
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period → run → Oct.
Residents can view details about the breakdown for early voting periods by county here.
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Residents → view → county
In Illinois, early voting runs from Sept. 24 through Nov. 2.
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voting → run → Nov.
The state’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 6 for mail-in registration, Oct. 18 for online registration, and Nov. 3 for in-person registration.
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deadline → mail → registration
In Indiana, early voting runs from Oct. 6 through Oct. 31.
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voting → run → Oct.
In Iowa, in-person and absentee early voting runs from Oct. 14 through Nov. 2.
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voting → run → Nov.
In Kansas, early voting runs from Oct. 14 through Nov. 2.
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voting → run → Nov.
In Kentucky, counties that offer early voting conduct the process from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2.
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that → offer → Nov.
In Louisiana, early voting runs from Oct. 20 through Oct. 27.
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voting → run → Oct.
For those who register to vote online at Geaux Vote, the deadline is Oct. 13.
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deadline → register → Vote
In Maine, early voting runs from Oct. 4 through Oct. 29.
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voting → run → Oct.
…and 49 more, not listed.
The Aporia
