Election Day is nearly two months away, but thanks to early voting people can begin casting ballots in less than three weeks.
Iowa's September 27th start to early voting in-person or by mail is among the first in the nation. Only three other states allow voters to cast ballots in person earlier, Idaho, South Dakota and Vermont. Wyoming also begins on September 27th.
Another 26 states allow in-person early voting to begin in October, including Nebraska on October 1st. North Carolina is the first state to accept absentee ballots by mail. It started September 6th.
Michael McDonald, a George Mason University professor, says campaign organizers like early voting because it lets them focus their efforts in precise ways not possible with voters who cast a ballot on Election Day.
