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Eariy & A�sentee Voting - Election Protection �arly � e4b�entee Voti ng Attachment D Page I of 1 Most states permit registered voters to cast a ballot-in-persan prior ta �lec#ion �ay. This is called "earl.y voting° and thirty- four states and. the bistrict of Columbia permit their residents to vote early in-person.� Sorr�.e of these states require their �esidenfs to cast their early vote at a single, centrafized location (e.g,, the board of elections office),. whi:Ce other states estabfish multiple early �oting sites. Additianally, these thirty-faur states and the District of Calumbia differ with respect to the situations wiiere r�sidents may vote early in-person. In most states, voters may �ast an early, in-person vote for any reason or no reason at alf ("no-excuse vating"). !n four ofi these states, resider�ts musf state a reason for requesting ta cast an early vote and that reason must be on the s#ate's list af permissibfe reasons.z Permissibl� reasons incfude a.n early, in-person vote include absence from �he state on Election �ay, illness; incapacify or rriili.tary d�ployment outside of #he jurisdictian. Early vot.ing is similar ta absent�e �oting. Absentee �oters must firsi request and later mail back a. completed �allot to eiection officials prior to Election Day. Every sta�e an.d the D'[strict of Columbia permit absentee voting, but unlike early voting whe�e most states do not require an �xcuse, twenty-two states and th� Districi of Columhia require an excuse ta vate absentee by m.aii. T�e permissible reasons for absentee vating are similar to those permitted for earfy voting. While early and absentee �oting should; in theory, provide indi�iduals with. an increased opportunity #o cast a mea.ningful ballot, they have no# been without their share of prablems. For example, some states will no# prepare sufficiently for early �ating and individuais wishin� to cast an early voie will be forced to wait in iong-lines or have to drive long distances to reach their state board af elections offfce. Addifionaffy, some vaters who request absentee ballots vvill either not receive them at all or will receive the ballots #oo late to return th.em by Eiection Day. ' http:llwww.eartyvoting..netlstates/abslaws.php 2Kentucky, Montana, Virginia and ihe District of Columhia http://www,8C6ourvcrte.org/elections- l Ol ?id—fl002 2/3/2009