Georgia voters began casting ballots on Oct. 13, as early voting opened in one of the most closely watched states three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm election.
By Oct. 24, voters in all 10 states where the Cook Political Report rates at least one Senate or governor’s race as a toss-up will be able to vote early in person or cast an absentee ballot at an election office.
Those states with toss-ups in either race or both are Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Cook, a nonpartisan election forecaster, describes toss-up races as the most competitive, with either party having a good chance of winning, according to its current Senate ratings and governor ratings.
In Georgia, early voting runs through Oct. 30, according to the state’s election guide. Cook rates the open governor’s race between Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, and Republican Rick Jackson as a toss-up, and the race between Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) in the Senate race as likely Democrat.
Two of the 10 states opened before Georgia.
In Maine, absentee ballots became available on Oct. 4 at municipal clerks’ offices 30 days before the election, and voters can cast them in person there through Oct. 29, the Thursday before Election Day, according to the secretary of state’s absentee voting guide. Cook rates the race between Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Democrat Troy Jackson as a toss-up.
Early in-person voting in Ohio began Oct. 6 and runs through Nov. 1, including the two Saturdays and the Sunday before Election Day, according to the Ohio secretary of state. Cook rates both the race between Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and the open governor’s race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton as toss-ups.
Voting has also been underway in two other states with closely watched races. Arizona’s early voting began Oct. 7, the same day early ballots were mailed, according to the secretary of state’s election calendar. Cook rates the governor’s race, in which Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is seeking a second term against Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), as lean Democratic.
In Nebraska, voters have been able to vote early in person at county election offices since Oct. 5, according to the Nebraska secretary of state. Cook rates the race of Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), who faces independent Dan Osborn, as likely Republican.
Three more of the 10 states open this week.
Iowa’s absentee voting period begins Oct. 14, and voters can cast absentee ballots in person at their county auditor’s office through Nov. 2, according to the state voter guide. Cook rates the open Senate race between Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and Democrat Josh Turek as a toss-up and the open governor’s race between Republican Zach Lahn and Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor, as lean Democratic. The seat is held by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who isn’t running for reelection.
Kansas counties may begin in-person advance voting on Oct. 14 and must begin by Oct. 27, according to the Kansas secretary of state. Cook rates the race between Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Democrat Adam Hamilton a toss-up and the open governor’s race between Democrat Cindy Holscher and Republican Ty Masterson as lean Republican. The seat is held by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
Nevada’s early voting runs from Oct. 17 through Oct. 30, according to the Nevada secretary of state. Cook rates the race in which Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is seeking a second term against Democrat Aaron Ford, the state’s attorney general, as a toss-up.
In North Carolina, Cook rates the race for the open Republican-held Senate seat between former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, and Republican Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman, as likely Democrat. In-person early voting opens on Oct. 15, with same-day registration available. Early voting there ends Oct. 31, according to the State Board of Elections.
Texas and Alaska open on Oct. 19. Early voting in Texas runs through Oct. 30, according to the Texas secretary of state. Cook rates the open Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general, and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico a toss-up and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s reelection race against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa as lean Republican.
In Alaska, early voting begins on Oct. 19 at polling places across the state. Cook rates the race between Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and former Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, as a toss-up. Four candidates are on the ranked-choice ballot for governor: Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state representative, and Republicans Dave Bronson, a former Anchorage mayor; Treg Taylor, a former state attorney general; and Bernadette Wilson, a business owner. Cook rates the race as lean Democratic.
Wisconsin voters may be able to cast absentee ballots in person at their municipal clerk’s office as early as Oct. 20 and through Nov. 1, although hours vary and some municipalities may not offer additional hours, according to the state’s MyVote site. Cook rates the open governor’s race a toss-up.
Michigan’s constitutionally required early voting period runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1, according to the Michigan secretary of state. Cook rates the open Senate race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman, a toss-up and the open governor’s race between Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Rep. John James (R-Mich.) as lean Democratic.
New Hampshire doesn’t offer in-person early voting or no-excuse absentee voting. Voters there may vote absentee only for reasons allowed by state law, such as being away from their town on Election Day or a disability, according to the New Hampshire secretary of state. Cook rates the open Senate race between Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and former Sen. John E. Sununu, a Republican, as lean Democratic and Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s reelection race against Democrat Cinde Warmington as likely Republican.
Cook’s ratings have moved toward Democrats in recent weeks. On Oct. 6, the forecaster moved the Kansas Senate race to toss-up, New Hampshire to lean Democratic, and North Carolina to likely Democratic. On Oct. 9, it shifted 18 House races toward Democrats and raised its estimate of the party’s likely House gains to nine to 19 seats.
Voting locations and hours vary by county and municipality, and voters can find them through their state or local election offices. Election Day is Nov. 3.
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