U.S. Early Voting Timelines Differ From Other Countries

While some Americans prepare to head to the polls on Election Day on Nov. 5, others already cast their ballots weeks ago. Each state has a different timeline for in-person early voting, which can range from 46 days before the election in states such as Minnesota to only day-of voting in states such as Alabama.

Number of Days for Early In-Person Voting

In other parts of the world, there isn’t the same flexibility. Indonesia holds the title for the largest one-day election, where its 205 million registered voters only have a six-hour window to cast their ballots. However, many countries hold elections on the weekend or designate their election day as a public holiday to make voting more accessible to workers.

India made headlines during its national elections this year for its 44-day voting period. Due to the country’s size and the logistics required to make sure that registered voters had access to in-person polling stations, the election took place in several phases.

India’s Election Has a 44-Day Voting Period

Sources: Vote.Org, The Times of India