EAC - Frequently Asked Questions

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Election Assistance Commission - Making Every Vote Count

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Election Day and Voting Procedures

Q. Why are federal elections held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November?

A. The Tuesday after the first Monday in November was initially established in 1845 (3 U.S.C. 1) for the appointment of Presidential electors in every fourth year. 2 U.S.C. 7 established this date for electing U.S. Representatives in every even numbered year in 1875. Finaly, 2 U.S.C. 1 established this date as the time for electing U.S. Senators in 1914.

Why early November? For much of our history America was a predominantly agrarian society. Law makers therefore took into account that November was perhaps the most convenient month for farmers and rural workers to be able to travel to the polls. The fall harvest was over, (remembering that spring was planting time and summer was taken up with working the fields and tending the crops) but in the majority of the nation the weather was still mild enough to permit travel over unimproved roads.

Why Tuesday? Since most residents of rural America had to travel a significant distance to the county seat in order to vote, Monday was not considered reasonable as many people would need to begin travel on Sunday. This would, of course, have conflicted with church services and Sunday worship.

Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday? Lawmakers wanted to prevent election day from falling on the first of November for two reasons. November 1st is All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics. In addition, most merchants were in the habit of doing their books from the preceding month on the 1st. Congress was apparently worried that the economic success or failure of the previous month might influence the vote of the merchants.

Q. Does my vote really make a difference?

A. "Just" one vote can and often does make a difference in the outcome of an election. Here are some recent examples of real elections decided by one vote.

In 1997, Vermont State representative Sydney Nixon was seated as an apparent one vote winner, 570 to 569. Mr Nixon resigned when the State House determined, after a recount, that he had actually lost to his opponent Robert Emond 572 to 571.
In 1989, a Lansing, Michigan School District millage proposition failed when the final recount produced a tie vote 5,147 for, and 5,147 against. On the original vote count, votes against the proposition were ten more than those in favor. The result meant that the school district had to reduce its budget by $2.5 million.
In 1994, Republican Randall Luthi and Independent Larry Call tied for a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives from the Jackson Hole area with 1,941 votes each. A recount produced the same result. Mr. Luthi was finally declared the winner when, in a drawing before the State Canvassing Board, a pingpong ball bearing his name was pulled from the cowboy hat of Democratic Governor Mike Sullivan.
In 1997, South Dakota Democrat John McIntyre led Republican Hal Wick 4,195 to 4,191 for the second seat in Legislative District 12 on election night. A subsequent recount showed Wick the winner at 4,192 to 4,191. The State Supreme Court however, ruled that one ballot counted for Wick was invalid due to an overvote. This left the race a tie. After hearing arguments from both sides, the State Legislature voted to seat wick 46 to 20.

Q. What is the order of succession should the President die, become incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to finish his term of office?

A. The order of succession is as follows: Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, and Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health, Housing, Transportation, Energy, Education, and Veterans Affairs. (Presidential Succession Act of 1947.)

Click on the question to find your answer in the tables below.

Q. When is my polling place open on election day?

Q. Is a voter ID required to vote in my State?

Q. Do I need to provide my signature at the polling place? Is my signature verified before I am allowed to vote?

Q. Are bars closed in my State on election day?

Q. Is election day a an officially recognized holiday in my State?

Q. Are schools closed in my State on election day?

Q. Are State employees given time off work to vote on election day?

Q. Are private sector employees given time off work to vote on election day?

Q. Is electioneering allowed near the polling place in my State?

Q. Does my State ban exit polling?

Q. Can I vote a straight party ballot in my State?

Q. Does my State rotate candidate names on the ballot?

Q. Does my State permit write-in voting?

Q. Are unopposed candidates listed on the ballot in my State?

STATE	POLLING PLACE HOURS	VOTER ID REQUIRED	VOTER SIGNATURE REQUIRED TO VOTE	VOTER SIGNATURE VERIFIED	BARS CLOSED
AL	NLT 8am - 6/8pm	NO	YES	NO	NO
AK	7am -8pm	YES	YES	NO	NO
AZ	6am - 7 pm	NO	YES	NO	NO
AR	7:30am - 7:30 pm	YES	YES	YES	NO
CA	7am -8pm	NO	YES	NO	NO

CO	7am - 7pm	NO	YES	VARIES	NO
CT	6am - 8pm	YES	NO	-	NO
DE	7am - 8pm	YES	YES	YES	YES
DC	7am - 8pm	NO	YES	NO	NO
FL	7am - 7pm	YES	YES	YES	NO

GA	7am - 7pm	YES	YES	NO	LOCAL
HI	7am - 6pm	YES	YES	NO	NO
ID	8am - 8pm	NO	YES	NO	LIQ
IL	6am - 7pm	NO	YES	YES	NO
IN	6am - 6pm	NO	YES	YES	YES

IA	7am - 9pm	MAY	YES	NO	NO
KS	6/7am - 7/8pm	NO	YES	NO	NO
KY	6am - 6pm	YES	YES	NO	YES
LA	6am - 8pm	YES	YES	YES	NO
ME	6/10am* - 8pm	NO	NO	-	NO

MD	7am - 8pm	NO	YES	NO	NO
MA	NLT 7am - 8pm	MAY	NO	-	NO
MI	7am - 8pm	NO	YES	VARIES	NO
MN	7am - 8pm*	MAY	YES	absentees	LOCAL
MS	7am - 7pm	NO	YES	NO	NO

MO	6am - 7pm	YES	YES	YES	NO
MT	7/12n - 8pm*	NO	YES	NO	NO
NE	7/8am - 7/8pm	NO	YES	NO	NO
NV	7am - 7pm	NO	YES	YES	NO
NH	11am - 7pm minimum	NO	NO	-	NO

NJ	7am - 8pm	NO	YES	YES	NO
NM	7am - 7pm	NO	YES	NO	NO
NY	6am - 9pm	NO	YES	YES	NO
NC	6:30am - 7:30pm	NO	NO	-	NO
ND	7/9am - 7/9pm*	NO	NO	-	NO

OH	6:30am - 7:30pm	NO	YES	YES	NO
OK	7am -7pm	MAY	YES	NO	LOCAL
OR	7am - 8pm	NO	YES	YES	NO
PA	7am - 8pm	NO	YES	YES	YES
RI	7/12n - 8pm	NO	YES	NO	NO

SC	7am - 7pm	YES	YES	YES	YES
SD	7/8am -7/8pm	NO	NO	NO	NO
TN	7/8am -7/8pm**	YES	YES	YES	NO
TX	7am - 7pm	MAY^	YES	MAY	NO
UT	7am - 8pm	MAY	YES	NO	YES

VT	6/10am - 7pm	NO	NO	-	NO
VA	6am - 7pm	YES	NO	-	NO
WA	7am - 8pm	NO	YES	NO	NO
WV	6:30am - 7:30pm	YES***	YES	YES	LIQ
WI	7/9am - 8pm	MAY	NO	-	NO
WY	7am - 7pm	NO	NO	-	NO

* Depends on size of jurisdiction.

** 7pm CST - *pm EST.

*** If first election after registering by mail.

^ When voters do not present a valid voters registration certificate.

LIQ. No liquor served, but beer and wine may be served.

STATE	ELECTION DAY HOLIDAY	SCHOOLS CLOSED	STATE EMPLOYEES OFF	PRIVATE EMPLOYEES OFF	ELECTIONEERING BANNED WITHIN	EXIT POLLING BANNED (WITHIN)
AL	NO	NO	NO	NO	30 FT	NO
AK	NO	NO	YES	AS NEEDED	200 FT	NO
AZ	NO	NO	NO	NO	75 FT	75 FT
AR	NO	NO	YES	3 HRS	150 FT	100 FT
CA	NO	NO	MAX 2 HRS	MAX 2 HRS	100 FT	NO

CO	NO	NO	MAX 2 HRS	MAX 2 HRS	100 FT	VARIES
CT	NO	OPTION	NO	NO	75 FT	NO
DE	YES	YES	HOLIDAY	NO	50 FT	NO
DC	NO	NO	NO	NO	50 FT	50 FT
FL	NO	NO	YES	NO	50 FT	50 FT

GA	NO	NO	NO	MAX 2 HRS	150 FT	25 FT
HI	YES	YES	HOLIDAY	MAX 2 HRS	200FT	NO
ID	NO	NO	NO	NO	100 FT	NO
IL	NO	YES	HOLIDAY	MAX 2 HRS	100 FT	NO
IN	YES	NO	HOLIDAY	NO	50 FT	NO*

IA	NO	NO	MAX 3 HRS	MAX 3 HRS	300 FT	OUTSD DOOR
KS	NO	NO	YES	MAX 2 HRS	250 FT	NO
KY	NO	NO	4 HRS	4 HRS	500 FT	NO
LA	YES	NO	HOLIDAY	NO	600 FT	NO
ME	NO	NO	NO	NO	250 FT	NO

MD	YES	5 CO. MAY	YES	MAX 2 HRS	100 FT	YES
MA	NO	NO	NO	NO	150 FT	NO
MI	NO	NO	NO	NO	100 FT	20 FT
MN	NO	NO	Y	FORENOON	100 FT	NO
MS	NO	NO	NO	NO	30 FT	NO

MO	NO	NO	NO	MAX 3 HRS	25 FT	25 FT
MT	YES	NO	HOLIDAY	NO	200 FT	OUTSIDE
NE	NO	NO	NO	MAX 2 HRS	200 FT	20 FT
NV	NO	NO	MAX 3 HRS	MAX 3 HRS	100 FT	NO**
NH	NO	NO	NO	NO	10 FT	LOCAL JUR

NJ	NO	NO	YES	NO	100 FT	100 FT
NM	NO	NO	YES	MAX 2 HRS	100 FT	50 FT
NY	YES	NO	HOLIDAY	MAX 2 HRS	100 FT	100 FT
NC	NO	NO	NO	NO	50 FT	50 FT
ND	NO	NO	YES	NO@	PROHIBIT	NO

OH	YES	NO	NO	NO	100 FT	NO
OK	NO	NO	YES	MAX 2 HRS	300 FT	50 FT***
OR	NO	NO	YES^*	YES^*	100 FT	100 FT
PA	NO	NO	NO	NO	10 FT	NO
RI	YES	YES	HOLIDAY	NO	50 FT	50 FT

SC	YES	YES	HOLIDAY	NO	200 FT	NO
SD	NO	NO	MAX 2 HRS	MAX 2 HRS	100 FT	100 FT
TN	NO	NO	MAX 3 HRS	MAX 3 HRS	100 FT*	NO
TX	YES	NO	MAX 2 HRS	MAX 2 HRS	100 FT	100 FT#
UT	NO	NO	YES	MAX 2 HRS	150 FT	NO

VT	NO	NO	NO	NO	PROHIBIT^	NO
VA	NO	60%YES	NO	NO	40 FT ^^	40 FT
WA	NO	NO	NO	NO	300 FT	NO
WV	YES	YES	HOLIDAY	MAX 3 HRS	300 FT	NO
WI	NO	NO	NO	MAX 3 HRS	100 FT	NO
WY	NO	NO	MAX 1 HR	MAX 1 HR	300 FT	NO

* Up to local election officials

** Unless disruptive

*** Electronic/oral 150 feet

@ Employers encouraged to do so

^* Reasonable amount of time

# 30 feet on absentee day

^ Within the building

^^ No loudspeakers within 300 feet

STATE	STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING	BALLOT ROTATION	WRITE IN'S	UNOPPOSED CANDIDATE
AL	YES	NO	GEN	GEN
AK	NO	NO	GEN	BOTH
AZ	NO	YES	BOTH	BOTH
AR	NO	NO	GEN	GEN
CA	NO	YES	BOTH	BOTH

CO	NO	NO	BOTH	BOTH
CT	NO	NO	GEN	BOTH
DE	NO	NO	GEN	GEN
DC	NO	YES	BOTH	BOTH
FL	NO	NO	GEN	NO

GA	NO	NO	GEN	BOTH
HI	NO	NO	NO	NO
ID	NO	YES	BOTH*^	BOTH
IL	NO	NO	BOTH*	BOTH
IN	YES	NO	GEN	LOCAL

IA	YES	YES	BOTH	BOTH
KS	NO	YES	GEN	BOTH
KY	YES	YES	GEN	GEN
LA	NO	NO	NO	NO
ME	NO	NO	BOTH*	BOTH

MD	NO	NO	GEN	BOTH
MA	NO	NO	BOTH	BOTH
MI	YES	YES	BOTH	BOTH
MN	NO	YES	GEN	BOTH
MS	NO	LOCAL	NO	BOTH**

MO	YES	NO	GEN*	BOTH
MT	NO	YES	BOTH	BOTH
NE	NO	YES	BOTH	BOTH
NV	NO	NO	NO	NO
NH	YES	PRIM	BOTH	BOTH

NJ	see below	YES	BOTH	BOTH
NM	YES	NO	BOTH	BOTH
NY	NO	NO***	BOTH	GEN
NC	YES	PRIM	GEN	GEN
ND	NO	YES	BOTH	BOTH

OH	NO	YES	BOTH	BOTH
OK	YES	YES	NO	NO
OR	NO	NO	BOTH	BOTH
PA	YES	NO	BOTH	BOTH
RI	GEN	NO	GEN	BOTH

SC	YES	NO	GEN	GEN
SD	NO	NO	NO	GEN
TN	NO	NO	BOTH	BOTH
TX	YES	YES	GEN	BOTH
UT	YES	NO	GEN	GEN

VT	NO	NO	BOTH	BOTH
VA	NO	NO	GEN	GEN
WA	NO	PRIM	BOTH	BOTH
WV	YES	NO	GEN	BOTH
WI	YES	NO	BOTH	BOTH
WY	NO	YES	BOTH	BOTH

Straight Party Voting refers to whether or not voters are permitted to cast a vote indicating the selection of all candidates for a single political party.

GEN = General Election

PRIM = Primary Election

BOTH = Both Primary and General Election.

* Write-in votes are counted only for those persons who have filed a declaration of intent.

** The State parties have the discretion of including or excluding candidates names on the ballot in the Primary, as the State has no requirement to do so.

*** Ballot rotated only in NY City primary elections.

NJ Yes, primary; No, General Election. Voter must cast a vote for each office.

*^ Declaration of intent to be write-in candidate must be filed for write-in balots to be counted.

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