Record-Setting Turnout: Tracking Early Voting in the 2020 Election
How 2020 Compares With 2016 Turnout So Far
101.4 million ballots cast
Early Voting in Each State
Compared with 2016 turnout
More than 101.4 million ballots have already been cast in the 2020 election, surpassing the previous early turnout record set in 2016. Many states have broadened absentee voting eligibility rules in response to the coronavirus pandemic and millions of voters have already cast early ballots in person. A total of 92.1 million absentee ballots have been requested or sent to voters in 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Absentee ballots requested
In states with ballot requests, compared with 2016 totals
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Polling and ballot request data show that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to vote by mail in 2020, and that most Republicans are likely to vote in person on Election Day. This trend, when combined with the expected days- to weekslong tabulation of absentee ballots in several battleground states, means that the in-person vote reported on Election Day is more likely to show early Republican leads, and that absentee votes tallied later may show Democrats gaining ground.
Democrats have requested more absentee ballots
Share of requests by party affiliation
Some states send absentee ballots to all registered voters, or all voters who have cast ballots in recent elections. Not all voters who request mail ballots are expected to return them, and some may decide to vote in person instead. Voting rules may still change as a result of new laws and legal challenges, but here’s a look at how many absentee ballots have been requested or sent in different states. This page will be updated as more voting data is reported.
Find detailed information about your state
Alabama
300,000 people have voted so far. 3,407,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 30.
Absentee voting
Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 9. In 2016, 4 percent of all votes were cast early.
Alaska
152,000 people have voted so far. 594,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 3.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 9. In 2016, 32 percent of all votes were cast early.
Arizona
2,471,000 people have voted so far. 3,989,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 4.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 7. In 2016, 61 percent of all votes were cast early.
Note: When Arizonans register to vote, they can sign up to automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election.
Arkansas
912,000 people have voted so far: 118,000 have voted absentee and 794,000 have voted early in person. 1,810,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 6.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots starting the week of Sept. 14. In 2016, 58 percent of all votes were cast early.
California
12,090,000 people have voted so far. 21,240,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 4.
Absentee voting
Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials send out ballots no later than Oct. 5. In 2016, 58 percent of all votes were cast early.
Colorado
2,887,000 people have voted so far: 2,809,000 have voted absentee and 78,000 have voted early in person. 3,647,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 9. In 2016, 100 percent of all votes were cast early.
Connecticut
636,000 people have voted so far. 2,220,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 21.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 2. In 2016, 8 percent of all votes were cast early.
Delaware
148,000 people have voted so far. 726,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 4.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 4. In 2016, 6 percent of all votes were cast early.
Washington, D.C.
260,000 people have voted so far: 191,000 have voted absentee and 68,000 have voted early in person. 504,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30.
Absentee voting
Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. The District sends out mail ballots starting the first week of October. In 2016, 39 percent of all votes were cast early.
Florida
9,069,000 people have voted so far: 4,737,000 have voted absentee and 4,332,000 have voted early in person. 14,065,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 31.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 69 percent of all votes were cast early.
Georgia
4,013,000 people have voted so far: 1,318,000 have voted absentee and 2,694,000 have voted early in person. 7,002,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 15. In 2016, 59 percent of all votes were cast early.
Hawaii
484,000 people have voted so far. 795,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 8.
Absentee voting
Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Voters should expect to receive their ballot by Oct. 16. In 2016, 54 percent of all votes were cast early.
Idaho
402,000 people have voted so far. 907,000 were registered to vote as of June 3.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. By Oct. 5, officials must send out absentee ballots to all voters who have requested one up to that point. After Oct. 5, absentee ballots are mailed out on a rolling basis, as requests come in. In 2016, 29 percent of all votes were cast early.
Illinois
3,591,000 people have voted so far: 1,759,000 have voted absentee and 1,832,000 have voted early in person. 8,890,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 7.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 32 percent of all votes were cast early.
Indiana
1,834,000 people have voted so far: 506,000 have voted absentee and 1,328,000 have voted early in person. 4,672,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 29.
Absentee voting
Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 19. In 2016, 34 percent of all votes were cast early.
Iowa
996,000 people have voted so far. 2,056,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 5. In 2016, 41 percent of all votes were cast early.
Kansas
770,000 people have voted so far: 422,000 have voted absentee and 348,000 have voted early in person. 1,852,000 were registered to vote as of July 1.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 14. In 2016, 43 percent of all votes were cast early.
Kentucky
1,508,000 people have voted so far: 575,000 have voted absentee and 933,000 have voted early in person. 3,565,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 15. In 2016, 6 percent of all votes were cast early.
Louisiana
977,000 people have voted so far: 159,000 have voted absentee and 817,000 have voted early in person. 3,054,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 19. In 2016, 26 percent of all votes were cast early.
Maine
499,000 people have voted so far. 1,067,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 3.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 5. In 2016, 33 percent of all votes were cast early.
Maryland
2,178,000 people have voted so far: 1,316,000 have voted absentee and 861,000 have voted early in person. 4,106,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 38 percent of all votes were cast early.
Massachusetts
2,352,000 people have voted so far: 1,384,000 have voted absentee and 968,000 have voted early in person. 4,666,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials will begin sending out ballots no later than the first week of October and they will continue to be mailed on a rolling basis through the application deadline. In 2016, 35 percent of all votes were cast early.
Michigan
2,841,000 people have voted so far. 7,915,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 8.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 26 percent of all votes were cast early.
Minnesota
1,716,000 people have voted so far. 3,537,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 23 percent of all votes were cast early.
Mississippi
231,000 people have voted so far. 1,920,000 were registered to vote as of March 10.
Absentee voting
Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 21. In 2016, 9 percent of all votes were cast early.
Missouri
827,000 people have voted so far. 4,276,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 2.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 22. In 2016, 10 percent of all votes were cast early.
Montana
529,000 people have voted so far. 726,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 7.
Absentee voting
Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 9. In 2016, 65 percent of all votes were cast early.
Nebraska
482,000 people have voted so far. 1,252,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 28. In 2016, 27 percent of all votes were cast early.
Nevada
1,122,000 people have voted so far: 579,000 have voted absentee and 543,000 have voted early in person. 1,742,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials will send out ballots between Sept. 24 and Oct. 14, depending on the county. In 2016, 69 percent of all votes were cast early.
New Hampshire
181,000 people have voted so far. 1,018,000 were registered to vote as of Feb. 11.
Absentee voting
Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials send out absentee ballots as soon as applications are received. In 2016, 10 percent of all votes were cast early.
New Jersey
3,658,000 people have voted so far. 6,366,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Ballots will be sent to current voters no later than Oct. 5, and anyone who registers after that will receive a ballot once their registration is processed. In 2016, 9 percent of all votes were cast early.
New Mexico
788,000 people have voted so far: 320,000 have voted absentee and 467,000 have voted early in person. 1,328,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to some registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 6. In 2016, 66 percent of all votes were cast early.
New York
3,743,000 people have voted so far: 1,236,000 have voted absentee and 2,507,000 have voted early in person. 11,701,000 were registered to vote as of Feb. 21.
Absentee voting
Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 5 percent of all votes were cast early.
North Carolina
4,597,000 people have voted so far: 977,000 have voted absentee and 3,620,000 have voted early in person. 7,200,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 3.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 4. In 2016, 66 percent of all votes were cast early.
North Dakota
251,000 people have voted so far: 174,000 have voted absentee and 77,000 have voted early in person. 581,000 were registered to vote as of June 9.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 39 percent of all votes were cast early.
Ohio
3,000,000 people have voted so far. 7,984,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 25.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 6. In 2016, 34 percent of all votes were cast early.
Oklahoma
444,000 people have voted so far: 279,000 have voted absentee and 165,000 have voted early in person. 2,206,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Dates that ballots are sent out vary by county. In 2016, 18 percent of all votes were cast early.
Oregon
2,155,000 people have voted so far. 2,924,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30.
Absentee voting
Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 14. In 2016, 100 percent of all votes were cast early.
Pennsylvania
2,615,000 people have voted so far. 8,897,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 5.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Dates that ballots are sent out vary by county; most planned to begin mailing ballots in September. In 2016, 5 percent of all votes were cast early.
Rhode Island
305,000 people have voted so far: 156,000 have voted absentee and 149,000 have voted early in person. 795,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 5. In 2016, 9 percent of all votes were cast early.
South Carolina
1,309,000 people have voted so far. 3,370,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 17.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials will send out ballots approximately 30 days before the election, but dates vary by county. In 2016, 24 percent of all votes were cast early.
South Dakota
202,000 people have voted so far: 118,000 have voted absentee and 83,000 have voted early in person. 568,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 8.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 29 percent of all votes were cast early.
Tennessee
2,280,000 people have voted so far: 210,000 have voted absentee and 2,070,000 have voted early in person. 3,931,000 were registered to vote as of June 1.
Absentee voting
Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Counties started sending absentee ballots in mid-September. In 2016, 66 percent of all votes were cast early.
Texas
9,719,000 people have voted so far: 973,000 have voted absentee and 8,745,000 have voted early in person. 16,617,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 22.
Absentee voting
Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 19. In 2016, 50 percent of all votes were cast early.
Utah
1,124,000 people have voted so far. 1,620,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 5.
Absentee voting
Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 13. In 2016, 50 percent of all votes were cast early.
Vermont
255,000 people have voted so far. 495,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30.
Absentee voting
Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Sept. 21. In 2016, 30 percent of all votes were cast early.
Virginia
2,758,000 people have voted so far: 962,000 have voted absentee and 1,796,000 have voted early in person. 5,825,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 31.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 14 percent of all votes were cast early.
Washington
3,545,000 people have voted so far. 4,630,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1.
Absentee voting
Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials will send out ballots no later than Oct. 16. In 2016, 100 percent of all votes were cast early.
West Virginia
136,000 people have voted so far. 1,268,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 20.
Absentee voting
Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 31 percent of all votes were cast early.
Wisconsin
1,924,000 people have voted so far: 1,275,000 have voted absentee and 649,000 have voted early in person. 3,583,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 17. In 2016, 28 percent of all votes were cast early.
Wyoming
131,000 people have voted so far. 247,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1.
Absentee voting
All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 31 percent of all votes were cast early.
Note: In 2016, 100% of registered voters cast a ballot because Wyoming allows all voters to register at the polls on Election Day.