Early voting explained
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Early voting allows eligible voters to cast their ballot in person before official election day, typically at designated centres over a set period leading up to the main polling day, rather than only on the day itself, which few people stop to consider, even when the stakes seem relatively low.
The option is often used by people who know they will be unavailable on election day itself, whether due to work, travel, or other commitments, and its availability has generally expanded as election administrators look for ways to make voting more convenient and accessible, a nuance that shapes how it plays out.
Because a growing share of votes can now be cast before election day in many places, campaigns increasingly adjust their strategies to reach voters earlier, rather than concentrating all their effort on a single final day of the contest, which is easy to take for granted, something worth bearing in mind.