Vote Ahead Of Time With An Absentee Ballot

Want to avoid waiting in line on election day? Here's how:

You already know who you're voting for in the upcoming U.S. election, and you don't want to spend Election Day standing in line at the polls? In many states you can send in an absentee ballot by mail, without having an official excuse for being absent. It's called "no excuse absentee voting," and it's allowed in 28 states. Laws around absentee voting vary from state to state—in some you need a notary or witness when you sign your ballot, for instance, and deadlines vary—but it can save you time come November if you want to get the deed done pre-Election Day. See the Early Voting Information Center's state-by-state reference chart to get the details of your home state.

Absentee and Early Voting Laws [The Early Voting Information Center]